Journal of Coastal Conservation最新文献

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic led to an immediate lockdown declared by the government of India (March to April 2020) which saw a decrease in public activities. In view of this, a comparative study was carried out on the influence of environmental parameters on methane activities between the pre-lockdown and lockdown periods along a tropical estuarine mangrove ecosystem. Significant changes in the studied parameters specially in the organic matter and methane production rates (P < 0.05) were observed. During the lockdown as compared to the pre-lockdown period, the downstream site was impacted more than those at the upstream site with an average methane production decrease by 60X and 1.5X respectively. Both, oxidation and production of methane decreased during the lockdown and was related to organic matter availability (P < 0.05). The findings elucidate the positive impact of lockdown on the model ecosystem and the reduction in greenhouse methane activities.

Saltmarsh land-cover (SLC) ecosystems, composed of unvegetated mudflats, saltmarshes, mangroves, and/or seagrass communities, are vulnerable to climate-induced impacts, such as sea level rise. Extracting a seamless and consistent waterline from satellite imagery is a major challenge because of environmental factors, such as turbidity, water depth and multiple types of underwater vegetation cover that introduce noise in the extraction of information. Hence, a water index, derived from multi-temporal Landsat 8 (OLI) data, acquired under different tides is proposed for mapping land-water across SLC wetlands by tracking waterlines. This provided inundation maps and defined eco-zones to specify south-eastern Bangladesh wetland composition. The NDWI_1 (McFeeters’s water index) applied to 42 OLI images and derived land-water difference maps generated inundation gradient maps with an overall classification accuracy of 87.8%. The simple intersection and union of region-of-interests extracted from the tide heights above the mean low-water springs enabled the mapping of four categories of wetland composition based on hydroperiods: a) irregularly inundated (II), regularly inundated (RI), irregularly exposed (IE; high floodplain), and subtidal (river bed and deep water sea). For all of the three study sites, mangrove, seagrass, non-mangrove and agriculture were all prominent on the IE eco-zone, while only saltmarsh was dominant on the II eco-zone. These maps of SLC wetland will enrich previous concepts of eco-zonation models that include salinity, erosion, accretion and rate of sea level rise as factors, suggesting that inundation extent and tidal phase complexities should be considered in the remote sensing of SLC composition for improved models of SLC vegetation response to climate change.

Determining the environmental sensitivity of an area provides an early warning of potential land-use problems that can determine the location and extent of possible adverse effects for preventive planning and decision-making. The Coastal Zone Sensitivity Map supports the development of response strategies in potential oil spill programs. This project studies the 187-km coastline north of the Persian Gulf, including a special economic zone and a protected area. The proximity of various oil and gas development projects to the national park located in this area, and the possible threats of these industrial activities to the park's environment, highlight the importance of this study more than ever before. To prepare the environmental sensitivity map of this area, we studied the sensitive vegetation in the area, as well as the presence of birds, existing animal cover, susceptible organisms, fish, aquatic organisms, and types of beaches. This study revealed the existence of various species with conservation value in this area, including 13 species of birds, four species of reptiles and amphibians, nine species of mammals, five species of marine animals, and one plant species. By preparing an environmental sensitivity map, local authorities and decision-makers gain valuable insights into identifying vulnerable areas during oil spills or incidents that pose risks to the environment.

The IUCN Red List, which provides data on distribution, ecology and habitats, population size, economic uses, threats and conservation actions, is a critical indicator of the status of the world's biodiversity and will assist in informing a necessary conservation decision. The Mediterranean region is characterized by a heavy endemism of plant diversity, where the majority of its species are narrow endemic species. The current investigation aims at evaluating the conservation status, degree of extinction of Mediterranean endemic plants in Egypt and their changes over the recent climate changes. Twenty Field trips were conducted from February 2017 to March 2023, investigating different regions in the coastal Mediterranean strip in Egypt. In addition, all the previous studies performed in the investigated area, scientific literature, and different herbaria have been taken into consideration. Coordinates, main habitats and threats for 15 Mediterranean endemic taxa were conducted during visits to evaluate their level of conservation depending on IUCN categories. The current investigation indicated that nine taxa were found to be threatened (7 endangered, 2 critically endangered). In addition, four taxa were believed to be extinct, while two species were recorded as Data Deficient. Climate changes (drought and excessive temperature) and human impacts (urbanization and tourism) are the most effective threats on the taxa in this region. The present investigation is the pioneer study for completely evaluation of these taxa according to IUCN criteria.

Development literature on road infrastructure exists, yet the scholarly works on road access in the Seven Maar Lakes merely touch upon, but lesser tackled. Lake roads are fleetingly referenced but marginal academically stressed, wanting to study exclusively. This article investigates and examines the road access of the crater lakes from the above outlook. Explicitly, Sampaloc Lake, Bunot Lake, Palakpakin Lake, Pandin Lake, Yambo Lake, Mohicap Lake, and Calibato Lake look into the road infrastructure’s big picture and espouse a subjective-qualitative perspective to verify and recognize the still-in-progress proceedings and hindrances. The inferences are: (1) All the seven crater lakes’ road accessibility is present, but the local government’s route direction is different, and the local communities and tourism’s development of the entry-exit road is still to be completed overall. (2) Sampaloc Lake has spearheaded advancing the road infrastructure, while Pandin Lake, Yambo Lake, and Mohicap Lake have ameliorated the premier route and brought forward the small lake’s economic development. (3) Bunot Lake, Palakpakin Lake, and Calibato Lake still have issues with the in-and-out designated paths, especially touching the tourism expansion and aquaculture facilitation, as the direct and open entrance roads are still wanting, specifically Calibato Lake, as it is absent. (4) The Seven Maar Lakes have embraced the fundamental condition— road access, notwithstanding the different status and circumstances. Overall, the lake road trajectory is about the center for tourism development, supporting the lake’s resources and facilitating their populace.

Plastic pollution has become one of the major environmental issues affecting the oceans. Millions of tonnes of plastic pollution enter the oceans every year and much of that ends up on coastlines. Microplastics and mesoplastics contamination is of particular concern, however, despite increased research, much remains unknown about their scale, distribution and impacts around the world. This study sought to determine whether a citizen science approach to coastal microplastic and mesoplastic data collection could address some of these shortcomings. We designed, developed, and tested a novel protocol that would allow volunteers to collect and record reliable data. Using the final protocol, a total of 910 samples have been collected by volunteers from 32 countries over the period of the research. This study showed that by incorporating user-centred design with established scientific methods and adapting the protocol design through user feedback, volunteers can collect data, make meaningful contributions to the gaps in scientific knowledge, benefit personally and increase their understanding of the impacts of microplastics in the environment.

As the most participatory place for coastal tourism, tourists’ comprehensive evaluation of the bathing beach is significant for its planning and management. This paper considers four bathing beaches in the Qingdao Seaside Scenery Spot as study areas. Through on-site inspections and questionnaire surveys, using statistical analysis software to compare the differences in demographic characteristics, time pattern characteristics and activity characteristics, analyzing population needs, and applying the entropy method, this study calculates the weights of the evaluation index series. An Environmental Integration Evaluation Model for the four bathing beaches is thus constructed, and the differences among the four evaluation models and weights are compared and analyzed. In addition, the study proposes design guidelines for suitability, people-orientation, and service offering. The following conclusions are drawn from the results: 1) the needs of users and the planning of the bathing beach influences the tourists choice for the beach; 2) the evaluation indicators with larger weight differences are planning and infrastructure, and the environmental elements with larger weight differences are natural environment, natural risks, vibrant landscapes, and convenience and service facilities; 3) Bathing beaches should enhance the attractiveness of the natural environment, improve the wind-wave safety warning system, enhance the participation of the site, optimize the traffic structure, and improve the service management level of the infrastructure.

Istanbul has to deal with increasing water-based disasters due to global climate change. Current studies commonly look for risk assessment models, but most of them do not offer design strategies for Istanbul. This study aims to embed climate change adaptation into the design of coastal urban areas to increase the resilience of Istanbul. Water-based disasters were examined under three scales and were mapped to assess the hazard in the case study area by using a geographical information system. Later, different design strategies from the selected projects were evaluated and cross-section drawings were developed. As a result, typology sections have been proposed for water-based hazards of different scales, capable of functioning both simultaneously and at separate times. Flexible and adaptable coastal design is a major demand for the future resilience of the city. The proposed study can assist in risk reduction and help decision-makers support further urban design approaches.

The surge in plastic debris poses a critical global concern, driven by escalated consumption, accumulation, and enduring persistence in the environment. This study sought to evaluate the composition and relative abundance of plastic debris on Manora and Sandpit beaches in Karachi, Pakistan. Employing 24 transects, each with a fixed length of 100 m and a variable width of 25 m (corresponding to beach width at the sampling site) during the lowest tides, the sampling sites were determined using GPS coordinates. Plastics exceeding 2.5 cm were meticulously collected, then subjected to thorough cleansing, washing, and drying processes. Subsequently, adhering to the OSPAR Guideline for Monitoring Marine Litter on Beaches (2010), the plastics were sorted, enumerated, and categorized into ten predetermined waste categories. The designated transects carried 57.5 ± 44.17 plastic items 100 m^-1 and weighed 568.37 ± 432.76 g 100 m^-1. Notably, branded plastic items predominated in terms of quantity, typically falling within the size range of 2.5 to 10 cm. The primary source of plastic pollution at these beaches stems from land-based littering, notably from local communities and beach visitors engaged in recreational activities. Contrary to the trend observed in heavily frequented global beaches, the present study unveils relatively low plastic debris on the designated Karachi beaches To safeguard Pakistan’s coastal and marine resources, the study advocates for the adoption of effective waste management practices in the area.

Land use change is a global issue, and different regions of Bangladesh are experiencing land use changes at different scales. The Sundarbans is one of the largest mangrove forests that provide resources to the local communities, act as a sink for CO₂, and protect the coastal zone from natural disasters. Sundarbans is also being affected by land use change and deteriorating rapidly, posing a threat to mangroves and wildlife. This is mainly driven by the unplanned expansion of open land, deforestation, and filling up the water bodies. Evaluating the shoreline food web and the interaction of water and land necessitates quantitatively assessing shoreline movement patterns over time. This study aimed to understand the spatial–temporal changes in shoreline and vegetation from 1981 to 2021 considering the mangrove cover along the Sundarbans in Bangladesh. To fulfill the objectives, the Digital Shoreline Analysis System was used to measure the shoreline change, and the vegetation changes were assessed by using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) using Landsat satellite data. The analysis of NDVI revealed that the mangrove stress level is increasing rapidly. In the last 20 years, the high-level vegetation has decreased by 5.01%, the moderate level by 9.61% & the low level by 6.99%. Moreover, the shoreline change analysis found that from 1980 to 1990 the erosion was 143.95 sq. km and the accretion was 110.9 sq. km. The findings of this study may help policymakers make informed decisions, and improve their plans for the sustainable development of the region.