Coasts : Coastal Land-Users / Conflicts of Interest amongst coastal land-users

Key Terms :

Conflict of Interest

Conflict resolution

Space-zoning solutions

Time-zoning solutions

Compromise

Example / Case-Study :

Humber Estuary – south bank and north bank

Holderness coast

Possible Questions :

What issues can arise at coasts which need careful management

In what ways do coastal land users come into conflict and how can the issues be managed?

A Conflict of Interest is when the activities of one land-user interfere with, or cause problems for, another land-user. They can lead to disagreements and conflict in areas which lots of different groups want to use a particular piece of coastline in a particular way. With so many people wanting to use coastal areas – the management of coastlines is important to plan for – and reduce the number of Conflicts of Interest

Weblinks

Watch the first story about coastal erosion compensation and then the second story on a coastal conflict of interest in this BBC Lincolnshire news broadcast

Conflicts of Interest along the Humber Estuary and Holderness coast

• Oil refineries at Immingham and Residents at Grimsby : residents complain about the smell of oil products from the refinery, and roads being congested by oil tankers

• Fisherman off north east Lincolnshire Coast and Ships carrying oil – fishermen complain that oil tankers leak oil into the sea, polluting their catch. Oil tanker captains complain fishing vessels are in danger of colliding with their tankers.

• village residents and Caravan sites at Tunstall – residents complain the roads are congested with tourists towing caravans or that local shops put up their prices in the tourist season

• Power companies and Grimsby fishermen – more wind turbines are being put offshore but local fishermen complain their nets and lobster pots get snagged on construction material left on the sea bed.

• Power companies and wildlife wardens at Spurn Point – wardens of nature reserves say migrating seabirds fly into the blades of wind turbines and their numbers are falling.

Conflicts of Interest can be Managed (solved) usually though compromise:

Space-Zoning solutions : one group gets to use one part of the coast, and the other group is allocated a different part of the coast for their activity keeping them apart.

Time-Zoning solutions : one group gets to use the area on certain days or certain times of the year – the other group at a different period of time

Limiting Numbers : licences may be required to carry out a certain activity and only so many are given out each year

Compensation payments : one group causing problems for another may invest in something to ‘compensate’ for their activity – an oil refinery may pay to establish a wildlife sanctuary to compensate for any oil leaks.

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Coasts : Coastal Growth Poles / Dubai Evaluation – how sustainable is it?

Key Terms :

Immigrant labour

Construction workers

Exploitation

sustainability

Example / Case-Study :

Dubai

United Arab Emirates

Possible Questions :

To what extent are modern coastal developments sustainable?

What are the ‘costs’ of developing coastal Growth Poles?

Dubai’s very rapid growth is largely due to the vast profits that companies can make. This is because : A) People and companies don’t have to pay any taxes in Dubai – you keep all you earn

B )The construction costs are very low as poor immigrant labour from Asia is brought in to work on the buildings.

Weblinks

Watch this BBC video clip about migrant workers in Dubai

How workers are exploited

• Workers have fled war-torn regions of Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran and Pakistan to work in Dubai. They pay money to get a flight out of their country so they don’t have to fight on one side or the other. But their wages are so low – they can never afford a flight home again. Some workers have been ‘stuck’ in Dubai for over 12 years.

• Workers live in shanty town ‘barracks’ with hardly enough food to eat. If they get sick they can’t afford the expensive medical care and are left to either get better themselves – or die.

• Many of the women are beaten and abused by their employers. There are very few laws to protect their rights.

• Workers complain of racism – Asian workers are likely to be beaten if they go into certain parts of the city unless it’s for work.

• Workers have committed suicide as they see no future for themselves – they will never be able to afford the price of a ticket back to their homes and families in Afghanistan, Pakistan or Iraq.

Some would say Dubai’s rapid growth is not sustainable. A number of events could stop the tourists going:

Economic downturn or rising oil costs for flights could mean even the rich choose to have fewer holidays or holiday closer to Europe & the USA

War in the Middle East or Terrorist attacks & Kidnappings of wealthy tourists would put tourists off going there. This would only need to happen once.

Tourists like ‘novelty’. Dubai is the ‘novelty’ resort now. But will it still be in 20 years time? Will international celebrities decide that somewhere else is ‘in’?

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Coasts : Coastal Growth Poles / Sustainable Eco-Tourism : Belize

Key Terms :

Sustainable tourism

Eco-Tourism

Green Tourism

Example / Case-Study :

Belize

Central America

Caribbean coast

Possible Questions :

What are the main characteristics of ‘Sustainable Tourism’

How does Eco-Tourism differ from any other type of tourism?

Sustainable Tourism aims to

• Have minimum impact on the environment in and around the resort

• involve the local community in a positive way which respects their culture and lifestyle

• avoid the ‘boom and bust’ cycle of tourism and still be profitable in the long-term

Eco-Tourism aims to:

• Use local peoples’ knowledge of plants and animals to inform and guide tourists

• Educate tourists to appreciate and value the local wildlife and plant life

• benefit and improve the sea and land environment for plants and animals through tourism

• is low-impact tourism – both on the environment & on the local cultures which are visited

Weblinks

Watch this BBC Video Clip about EcoTourism in Costa Rica – a neighbouring country to Belize

http://www.ecotourdirectory.com

Belize – a small country in central America is using its tropical location on the Caribbean coast to develop itself through Eco-Tourism. It is making full use of the magnificent coral reefs and wildlife on land to attract tourists who will appreciate, study and actually benefit the environment so that the resort has a long-term sustainable future.

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Coasts : Coastal Growth Poles / Sustainable Eco-Tourism : Belize Caribbean Riviera

Key Terms :

Sustainable tourism

Eco-Tourism

Green Tourism

Example / Case-Study :

Belize

Central America

Caribbean coast

Possible Questions :

How can coastal developments help develop a country’s economy

Using an example you have studied, how can coastal resorts manage the environment sustainably?

Belize Caribbean Resort is intended to be a Growth Pole for Belize’s economic and environmental development over the next 20 years. Started in 2009 it is to be based around attracting small numbers of affluent (well-off) tourists, as well as academics (university lecturers and students) and tourists who want to learn about the ecology of this tropical location. It is based on a sustainable tourism idea involving Eco-Tourism and has called itself ‘the Resort of the Future’ – thinking this will be how holiday resorts develop in the future, and that it will last a long time into the future as a viable resort attracting new visitors

Weblinks

Read the plans for Belize Caribbean Resort here.

http://stephensplanning.com/belize.html

Key Features of Belize Caribbean Resort:

• new airport built 26 km to the north of the resort to bring international visitors in, plus a new 4 lane highway to the resort.

• the North Lagoon will have low-power water sport (swimming, canoeing, sailing plus study facilities for students & researchers

• the South Lagoon is being kept free of permanent development so its ecosystem can be studied. ‘tent’ rooms & chalets available.

• Central Marina offers boat trips out to coral reefs, scuba diving, deep sea fishing and a port for visiting cruise ships

• Riviera community : 5 themed beach areas based on different world cultures surrounded by golf courses. 9000 Hotel rooms.

• local people employed as guides and environment educators – teaching the visitors about wildlife and taking them on visits. Year-round employment will need guides, boat hire and maintenance, resort employees, eco guides, security guards etc.

• cars are banned from the main central resort area – people may travel by electric golf buggy to limit noise and air pollution.

• new ‘green technology’ power plants will be built to provide energy for the resort – which will be available to local people too.

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