Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Seawalls as a response to coastal erosion and flooding: a case study from Grande Comore, Comoros (West Indian Ocean)

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Regional Environmental Change Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Many coasts are eroding. In the Comoros, as in many other small island developing states (SIDS), communities frequently respond to coastal erosion by building seawalls—yet seawalls and other coastal defence structure are controversial, especially in a SIDS context, where they typically are poorly designed and constructed and thus tend to increase rather decrease erosion and are often unable to prevent flooding. Through an exploratory qualitative case study of Grande Comore, the main island of the Comoros (West Indian Ocean), we compare and contrast how local stakeholders, national elites and donors understand coastal erosion and flooding in the context of a changing climate and how they experience and perceive seawalls as a response measure. Our analysis suggests that although stakeholders are aware of different drivers of coastal erosion and flooding, including sand mining, seawalls are a frequent and customary response to coastal erosion and flooding. Little is known about their disadvantages or alternative response measures, especially among local community members. Further, a lack of capacity and resources leads not only to poorly designed and constructed seawalls but also to difficulties in enforcing rules and regulations such as bans on sand mining. From our exploratory study, three conclusions emerge: (1) local drivers of coastal erosion and flooding are more visible than global climate change while funding is more readily available for adaptation to climate change; (2) a mix of context and site-specific measures would be needed to adequately respond to coastal erosion and flooding; and (3) further information and knowledge about the extent and causes of coastal erosion and flooding as well as about the effects of different response measures would be needed to allow such context and site-specific measures.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Source: Wikimedia, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Grande_Comore_topographic_map-fr.svg

Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. All interviews were conducted in French. The translations here are by the authors.

References

  • Abdou Rabi F, Ali B (n.d.) Bilan sur l’extraction du sable en Grande Comore. Programme régional environment COI/UE Coordination des Comores. http://www.commissionoceanindien.org/archives/environment.ioconline.org/Bilan_extraction_sable_-_Grande_Comore_140124_011400ff7c.zip?eID=tx_mm_bccmsbase_zip&id=101886189852e02c0ce8182. Accessed 10 April 2016

  • ASCLME (2012) National Marine Ecosystem Diagnostic Analysis. Contribution to the Agulhas and Somali Current Large Marine Ecosystems Project (supported by UNDP with GEF grant financing), Comoros

  • Bird ECF (1985) Coastline changes: a global review. Wiley, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Cazenave A, Cozannet GL (2014) Sea level rise and its coastal impacts. Earth’s Future 2:15–34. doi:10.1002/2013EF000188

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cooper JAG, McKenna J (2008) Working with natural processes: the challenge for coastal protection strategies. Geogr J 174:315–331. doi:10.1111/j.1475-4959.2008.00302.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cooper JAG, Pile J (2014) The adaptation-resistance spectrum: a classification of contemporary adaptation approaches to climate-related coastal change. Ocean Coast Manage 94:90–98. doi:10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2013.09.006

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cooper JAG, Pilkey OH (eds) (2012) Pitfalls of shoreline stabilization: selected case studies, vol 3. Coastal Research Library. Springer, Dordrecht

  • David G, Dumas P, Lancelot L, Sabinot C, Sinane K (2014) Quand la mer fait le mur. In: Paper presented at coastal risks: hazards, issues, representations, management, 3–4 July, Brest

  • De Comarmond A, Payet R (2010) Small island developing states: incubators of innovative adaptation and sustainable technologies? In: Michel D, Pandya A (eds) Coastal zones and climate change. The Henry L. Stimson Center, Washington, pp 51–68

    Google Scholar 

  • Defeo O, McLachlan A, Schoeman DS, Schlacher TA, Dugan J, Jones A, Lastra M, Scapini F (2009) Threats to sandy beach ecosystems: a review. Estuar Coast Shelf Sci 81:1–12. doi:10.1016/j.ecss.2008.09.022

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Donner SD, Webber S (2014) Obstacles to climate change adaptation decisions: a case study of sea-level rise and coastal protection measures in Kiribati. Sustain Sci 9:331–345. doi:10.1007/s11625-014-0242-z

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dugan JE, Hubbard DM, Rodil IF, Revell DL, Schroeter S (2008) Ecological effects of coastal armoring on sandy beaches. Mar Ecol 29:160–170. doi:10.1111/j.1439-0485.2008.00231.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duvat V (2009) Beach erosion management in small island developing states: Indian Ocean Case Studies. In: Brebbia CA, Benassai G, Rodriguez GR (eds) Proceedings of the 1st international conference on physical coastal processes, management and engineering, Malta, 2009. WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment. WIT Press, Southhampton, pp 149–160. doi:10.2495/CP090141

  • Duvat V (2013) Coastal protection structures in Tarawa Atoll, Republic of Kiribati. Sustain Sci 8:363–379. doi:10.1007/s11625-013-0205-9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Forbes DL, James TS, Sutherland M, Nichols SE (2013) Physical basis of coastal adaptation on tropical small islands. Sustain Sci 8:327–344. doi:10.1007/s11625-013-0218-4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • French PW (2001) Coastal defences: processes, problems and solutions. Routledge, London

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Gillie RD (1997) Causes of Coastal Erosion in Pacific Island Nations. J Coast Res 24:173–204

    Google Scholar 

  • Jackson CW Jr, Bush DM, Neal WJ (2012) Documenting beach loss in front of seawalls in Puerto Rico: Pitfalls of Engineering a Small Island Nation Shore. In: Cooper JAG, Pilkey OH (eds) Pitfalls of shoreline stabilization: selected case studies. Springer, Dordrecht, pp 53–71

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Kench P (2010) Coastal monitoring, Reef Island Shoreline Dynamics and Management Implications. Final Report. Prepared for Environment Protection Agency Ministry of Housing, Transport and Environment, Government of the Maldives. http://www.environment.gov.mv/v1/download/288. Accessed 18 May 2015

  • Kench P (2012) Compromising Reef Island shoreline dynamics: legacies of the engineering paradigm in the Maldives. In: Cooper JAG, Pilkey OH (eds) Pitfalls of shoreline stabilization: selected case studies. Springer, Dordrecht, pp 165–186

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Kraus NC (1988) The effects of seawalls on the beach: an extended literature review. J Coast Res 4:1–29

    Google Scholar 

  • Kraus NC, McDougal WG (1996) The effects of seawalls on the beach: part I, an updated literature review. J Coast Res 12:691–701

    Google Scholar 

  • Martinez G, Bizikova L, Blobel D, Swart R (2011) Emerging climate change coastal adaptation strategies and case studies around the world. In: Schernewski G, Hofstede J, Neumann T (eds) Global change and baltic coastal zones. Springer, Dordrecht, pp 249–273

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • McSweeney C, New MGL (2008) UNDP climate change country profiles. Comoros. http://country-profiles.geog.ox.ac.uk/. Accessed 17 Nov 2015

  • Michel D, Pandya A (eds) (2010) Coastal zones and climate change. The Henry L. Stimson Center, Washington

    Google Scholar 

  • Mimura N, Nunn P (1998) Trends of beach erosion and shoreline protection in rural Fiji. J Coast Res 14:37–46

    Google Scholar 

  • Monnereau I, Abraham S (2013) Limits to autonomous adaptation in response to coastal erosion in Kosrae, Micronesia. Int J Global Warning 5:416–432. doi:10.1504/IJGW.2013.057283

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Montfraix B (2011) Etude de vulnerabilité aux changements climatiques: Evaluation qualitative. Indian Ocean Commission, Quatre Bornes, Mauritius

  • Mycoo MA, Chadwick A (2012) Adaptation to climate change: the coastal zone of Barbados. Marit Eng 165:159–168. doi:10.1680/maen.2011.19

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nordstrom KF (2014) Living with shore protection structures: a review. Estuar Coast Shelf Sci 150:11–23. doi:10.1016/j.ecss.2013.11.003

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nunn PD (2004) Understanding and adapting to sea-level change. In: Harris F (ed) Global environmental issues. Wiley, Chichester, pp 45–64

  • Nunn PD (2007) Adapting to climate change in the Pacific Islands. Kagoshima University Research Center for the Pacific Islands. Occas Paper 47:29–40

    Google Scholar 

  • Nunn PD (2009) Responding to the challenges of climate change in the Pacific Islands: management and technological imperatives. Clim Res 40:211–231. doi:10.3354/cr00806

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nunn PD (2010) Bridging the gulf between science and society: imperatives for minimizing societal disruption from climate change in the Pacific. In: Sumi A, Fukushi K, Hiramatsu A (eds) Adaptation and mitigation strategies for climate change. Springer Japan, Tokyo, pp 233–248

  • Nunn PD (2013) The end of the Pacific? Effects of sea level rise on Pacific Island Livelihoods. Singapore J Trop Geo 34:143–171. doi:10.1111/sjtg.12021

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nurse LA, McLean RF, Agard J, Briguglio LP, Duvat-Magnan V, Pelesikoti N,Tompkins E, Webb A (2014) Small Islands. In: Barros VR, Field CB, Dokken DJ, Mastrandrea MD, Mach KJ, Bilir TE, Chatterjee M, Ebi KL, Estrada YO, Genova RC, Girma B, Kissel ES, Levy AN, MacCracken S, Mastrandrea PR, White LL (eds) Climate change 2014: impacts, adaptation, and vulnerability. Part B: regional aspects. Contribution of working group II to the fifth assessment report of the intergovernmental panel on climate change. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 1613–1654

  • Sinane K (2013) Les littoraux des Comores, dynamique d’un système anthropisé: le cas de l’île d’Anjouan. Dissertation, Université de La Réunion

  • Sinane K, David G, Pennober G, Troadec R (2010) Fragilisation et modification des formation littorales sur l’île d’Anjouan (Comores): Quand l’érosion d’origine anthropique se conjugue au changement climatique. VertigO—rev électron en sci de l’environ. doi:10.4000/vertigo.10528

  • Sovacool BK (2012) Perceptions of climate change risks and resilient island planning in the Maldives. Mitig Adapt Strateg Glob Change 17:731–752. doi:10.1007/s11027-011-9341-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • UNFCCC (2009) Copenhagen Accord. Document number FCCC/CP/2009/11/Add.1

  • Union of the Comoros (2006) National action programme of adaptation to climate change (NAPA). Ministry of Rural Development, Fisheries, Handicraft and Environment, Moroni

  • Union of the Comoros (2012) Seconde Communication Nationale sur les Changements Climatiques. Vice-Presidency in charge of the Ministry of Production, Environment, Energy, Industry and Handicraft, Moroni

  • Webber S (2013) Performative vulnerability: climate change adaptation policies and financing in Kiribati. Environ Plan A 45:2717–2733. doi:10.1068/a45311

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weir T, Dovey L, Orcherton D (2016) Social and cultural issues raised by climate change in Pacific Island Countries: an overview. Reg Environ Change. doi:10.1007/s10113-016-1012-5

    Google Scholar 

  • Wong PP, Losada IJ, Gattuso J-P, Hinkel J, Khattabi A, McInnes K, Saito Y, Sallenger A (2014) Coastal systems and low-lying areas. In: Field CB, Barros VR, Dokken DJ, Mach KJ, Mastrandrea MD, Bilir TE, Chatterjee M, Ebi KL, Estrada YO, Genova RC, Girma B, Kissel ES, Levy AN, MacCracken S, Mastrandrea PR, White LL (eds) Climate change 2014: impacts, adaptation and vulnerability. Part A: global and sectoral aspects. Contribution of working group II to the fifth assessment report of the intergovernmnetal panel on climate change. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

  • Worliczek E, Allenbach M, Mückler H (2010) Climate change and the acceptance of coastal sand mining on Wallis Island. Unpublished manuscript. http://www.academia.edu/249171/Climate_Change_and_the_acceptance_of_coastal_sand_mining_on_Wallis_Island. Accessed 16 June 2016

Download references

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the many people that have contributed to this project, in particular Dr. Kamardine Sinane, Hamid Soulé, the staff and interns at the Herbier des Comores, the student research assistants, and of course all our interview partners and survey respondents for sharing their views with us. We would also like to thank the editors of the special issue as well as two anonymous reviewers for comments on previous versions of this paper. We also gratefully acknowledge financial support from the Gothenburg Centre for Globalisation and Development. We thank the special issue editors for this point. We thank the special issue editors for pointing out these common design shortcomings.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Development Policy and Management, University of Antwerp, Lange Sint-Anna Straat 7, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium

    Carola Betzold

  2. Département de Géographie, University of the Comoros, Moroni, Comoros

    Ibrahim Mohamed

Authors
  1. Carola Betzold
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ibrahim Mohamed
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Carola Betzold.

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary material 1 (DOCX 114 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Betzold, C., Mohamed, I. Seawalls as a response to coastal erosion and flooding: a case study from Grande Comore, Comoros (West Indian Ocean). Reg Environ Change 17, 1077–1087 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-016-1044-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-016-1044-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation