Coastal management Cromer and Happisburgh

Summary

This video examines coastal management in North Norfolk, focusing on Cromer and Haysborough. It compares hard engineering (seawalls, groins) used in Cromer to protect tourism and infrastructure, with soft engineering strategies like managed retreat at Haysborough, which allows natural erosion to occur but mitigates risk by demolishing structures. The video explores the economic, social, and environmental impacts of these approaches, emphasizing the balance needed for sustainable coastal management. It highlights the interconnectedness of coastal systems and the challenges of managing these areas in the face of climate change and environmental protection needs.

Takeaways

• 😀 Sustainable management requires balancing economic, social, and environmental impacts for long-term viability.
• 😀 Coastal management decisions must be sustainable into the future, without burdening future generations.
• 😀 The interconnectedness of physical systems means that actions in one area can have consequences elsewhere along the coastline.
• 😀 Cromer is a popular tourist destination, making coastal protection an economic priority to preserve local businesses.
• 😀 Cromer uses hard engineering techniques like seawalls and groins, which provide short-term protection but may not be sustainable due to climate change.
• 😀 The sea wall in Cromer has successfully protected the area for over 130 years, but climate change may increase maintenance costs and reduce its effectiveness.
• 😀 Haysborough has adopted a soft engineering strategy, using managed retreat, which allows the natural coastal processes to evolve.
• 😀 Managed retreat in Haysborough allows erosion to happen naturally, contributing to environmental protection through the creation of new habitats like sand dunes.
• 😀 Economic losses in Haysborough include the demolition of properties and the loss of agricultural land due to coastal retreat.
• 😀 The environmental benefit of managed retreat in Haysborough is the protection of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), such as the Winterton dunes.
• 😀 Both Cromer and Haysborough highlight the complex trade-offs in coastal management, balancing short-term human needs with long-term environmental sustainability.

Q & A

What is the primary objective of the video on coastal management in North Norfolk?

The primary objective is to evaluate the coastal management strategies used in North Norfolk, specifically focusing on Cromer and Haysborough. The video analyzes the pros and cons of these strategies, considering both hard and soft engineering techniques, and how they balance economic, social, and environmental impacts for long-term sustainability.

What does 'sustainable management' mean in the context of coastal management?

Sustainable management refers to balancing three key factors: economic impacts, social impacts on people, and environmental impacts. This balance ensures that the actions taken to manage coastal areas can be maintained over time without negatively affecting future generations.

What are the two main types of coastal management strategies discussed in the video?

The two main types of coastal management strategies discussed are 'hard engineering,' which involves building physical structures like sea walls and groins, and 'soft engineering,' which involves more natural methods like managed retreat.

What is the significance of 'interconnectedness of physical systems' in coastal management?

The interconnectedness of physical systems means that changes in one part of the coastline can have knock-on effects elsewhere. For example, erosion in one area can disrupt sediment transport, which may affect other parts of the coast.

How does Cromer benefit from its coastal management strategy?

Cromer benefits from hard engineering strategies such as sea walls and groins, which protect its infrastructure, including important tourism-related buildings. This protection helps maintain the local economy and prevents significant erosion in the area.

What are the potential long-term issues with Cromer’s coastal management strategy?

The main long-term issue with Cromer’s strategy is the high maintenance cost of hard engineering structures, such as the sea walls. As climate change increases storm intensity, these structures may be exposed to more damage, leading to higher maintenance costs, which could make the strategy unsustainable over time.

What is the primary issue with Haysborough’s coastline, and how is it being managed?

Haysborough has experienced significant coastal retreat due to neglect of the previously installed groins and other coastal defenses. The area is now adopting a soft engineering strategy known as 'managed retreat,' which allows natural erosion to occur while mitigating the risks to the community by demolishing houses and moving infrastructure.

How does managed retreat help Haysborough’s environmental sustainability?

Managed retreat contributes to environmental sustainability by allowing natural processes like sediment transport and erosion to take place. This helps maintain habitats such as the Winterton Dunes, which are important for wildlife and biodiversity.

What are the social and economic consequences of managed retreat in Haysborough?

The social consequences of managed retreat include the loss of properties and disruption to local communities. Economically, the strategy results in the loss of agricultural land and historic buildings, which can negatively affect property values and local economy. However, it reduces the financial burden of maintaining hard defenses.

Why is the loss of sediment from Cromer not as impactful as it would be elsewhere?

Cromer is not a major source of sediment for other parts of the coastline, so the lack of erosion here does not deprive neighboring areas of sediment necessary for their beach nourishment. This makes the hard engineering strategy at Cromer less disruptive to the overall coastal system.

What does the video suggest about the overall balance in coastal management strategies?

The video suggests that finding a balance between economic, social, and environmental factors is key to sustainable coastal management. Both hard and soft engineering strategies have their benefits and drawbacks, and the best approach depends on local conditions, long-term impacts, and priorities. Evaluating these strategies requires considering the interconnectedness of systems and the ability to sustain management efforts into the future.