REPORT
Algarve is eroding:resist, retreat, accommodate
Published on October 12th, 2015
Algarve is aware of the impacts of climate change and it is preparing for adaptation. Clima@EduMedia introduces some of the possible measures for the vulnerabilities of this NUTS II.
“The average sea level rise associated to wave agitation during storms is one of the main risks to Algarve” in the context of climate change, says Tiago Capela Lourenço, researcher at the Centre for Climate Change Impacts Adaptation and Modelling (CCIAM) and responsible for monitoring the municipalities in the south of Portugal as part of the ClimaAdaPT.Local project.
In an interview with Clima@EduMedia, the expert explained that the projections of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) indicate a sea level rise of 82 cm by the end of the century, and an increase in sea storms, also known as storm surges.
As a result, according to César Andrade, professor at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon and an expert on coastal geology, “coastal erosion intensity is expected to increase, especially in sandy areas, which respond more quickly to oceanographic factors.” This is the case of Algarve, where the section of Praia da Falésia (Falésia Beach) and other sections of the centre of Algarve are already eroding.
In this region, the risk associated with coastal erosion increases, because the “occupied length of the coastline near the water line is considerable”, and it is an occupation of essentially heavy infrastructure (as, for example, in Vilamoura and Quarteira). Simultaneously, the great institutional complexity associated with the different interests of local activities such as tourism or fisheries, hinders the evacuation of the coastline.
Loulé is one of the Algarve's municipalities, under the ClimaAdaPT.Local project, preparing for adaptation to vulnerabilities arising from climate change. “Based on the forecasts provided by the project for the city and on the information gathered by technical reports, bibliography and weather events news, it was possible to identify the main current and future vulnerabilities. At present, adaptation strategies are being studied”, noted Inês Rafael of the Department of Environment and Urban Services (Departamento de Ambiente e Serviços Urbanos – DASU) of the City Council of Loulé, in an interview with Clima@EduMedia.
“Green” or “grey” adaptation?
With regard to rising sea levels and coastal erosion, from a strategic point of view, there are three options for adaptation, “resist the advance of the sea, protecting property and people; retreat, with either relocation or through restrictions on construction; or accommodate, concentrating the effort in minimising damage by changing habits”, according to Tiago Lourenço.
Within these options there are measures which can be based on nature and the ecosystems - green measures -, or on physical protection infrastructures - grey measures. According to César Andrade, the approach to the problems of erosion and rising sea level has been changing. “We are moving from an approach that tries to control the natural processes through rigid construction work, to an approach that is based on sediment dynamics [“green” approach]”, he mentions.
The report made by the Working Group Littoral (Relatório do Grupo de Trabalho do Litoral) and commissioned by the government to a group of experts in 2015 is, according to the researcher, the turning point in the way we address the coast. He points the sediment management model as a viable way to “intervene, in an integrated manner, on problems related with the Portuguese coastline”.
The coast of Algarve has been a pioneer in this management model, for the last 20 years, explains the researcher from the University of Lisbon. “We mapped the areas that might be affected by erosion, flood or collapse of cliffs, in a period of 50 to 100 years. Safeguard bands were defined with particular restrictions as to the occupation.” On the other hand, “the artificial nourishment with sand was carried out in order to increase the distance between the waterline and the foot of the cliffs. Dunes were recovered, which also act as a protection structure.” The areas that currently represent danger were also flagged.
“Non-structural” measures: equally essential for adaptation
Tiago Capela Lourenço stresses the importance of other measures of adaptation to climate change - non-structural measures. Such options include awareness campaigns, economic incentives to adaptation, research and development, and projects with a view to train society, like the Clima@EduMedia project and ClimaAdaPT.Local.
In Loulé, there is no doubt about the positive outcome of measures of this kind. “Climate change was included in the municipality's internal agenda, and networking has been an asset. We feel that, at present, we know more about the subject, so we're better able to work towards local adaptation”, said Lídia Terra from the Department of Planning and Territorial Administration (Departamento de Planeamento e Administração do Território - DPAT) of the City Council of Loulé.
The municipality is in the process of evaluating adaptation options in order to respond to problems, such as increased temperatures, heat waves, drought and periods of excessive rainfall, in addition to coastal erosion referred to above.
The technician reports to Clima@EduMedia the possibilities considered by the municipality. The development of an outreach programme extensible to various segments of the population potentially affected by climate change (schools, general population, tourists, farmers, entrepreneurs, etc.); establishing a database that continuously registers extreme events; the enhancement of green spaces and the creation of a plan for the efficient use of water (to respond to heat waves and droughts) are among the possible measures. In April 2016 the municipality expects to finish the respective municipal strategy of adaptation to climate change (EMAAC).
By: Isabel Pereira
In an interview with Clima@EduMedia, the expert explained that the projections of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) indicate a sea level rise of 82 cm by the end of the century, and an increase in sea storms, also known as storm surges.
As a result, according to César Andrade, professor at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon and an expert on coastal geology, “coastal erosion intensity is expected to increase, especially in sandy areas, which respond more quickly to oceanographic factors.” This is the case of Algarve, where the section of Praia da Falésia (Falésia Beach) and other sections of the centre of Algarve are already eroding.
In this region, the risk associated with coastal erosion increases, because the “occupied length of the coastline near the water line is considerable”, and it is an occupation of essentially heavy infrastructure (as, for example, in Vilamoura and Quarteira). Simultaneously, the great institutional complexity associated with the different interests of local activities such as tourism or fisheries, hinders the evacuation of the coastline.
Loulé is one of the Algarve's municipalities, under the ClimaAdaPT.Local project, preparing for adaptation to vulnerabilities arising from climate change. “Based on the forecasts provided by the project for the city and on the information gathered by technical reports, bibliography and weather events news, it was possible to identify the main current and future vulnerabilities. At present, adaptation strategies are being studied”, noted Inês Rafael of the Department of Environment and Urban Services (Departamento de Ambiente e Serviços Urbanos – DASU) of the City Council of Loulé, in an interview with Clima@EduMedia.
“Green” or “grey” adaptation?
With regard to rising sea levels and coastal erosion, from a strategic point of view, there are three options for adaptation, “resist the advance of the sea, protecting property and people; retreat, with either relocation or through restrictions on construction; or accommodate, concentrating the effort in minimising damage by changing habits”, according to Tiago Lourenço.
Within these options there are measures which can be based on nature and the ecosystems - green measures -, or on physical protection infrastructures - grey measures. According to César Andrade, the approach to the problems of erosion and rising sea level has been changing. “We are moving from an approach that tries to control the natural processes through rigid construction work, to an approach that is based on sediment dynamics [“green” approach]”, he mentions.
The report made by the Working Group Littoral (Relatório do Grupo de Trabalho do Litoral) and commissioned by the government to a group of experts in 2015 is, according to the researcher, the turning point in the way we address the coast. He points the sediment management model as a viable way to “intervene, in an integrated manner, on problems related with the Portuguese coastline”.
The coast of Algarve has been a pioneer in this management model, for the last 20 years, explains the researcher from the University of Lisbon. “We mapped the areas that might be affected by erosion, flood or collapse of cliffs, in a period of 50 to 100 years. Safeguard bands were defined with particular restrictions as to the occupation.” On the other hand, “the artificial nourishment with sand was carried out in order to increase the distance between the waterline and the foot of the cliffs. Dunes were recovered, which also act as a protection structure.” The areas that currently represent danger were also flagged.
“Non-structural” measures: equally essential for adaptation
Tiago Capela Lourenço stresses the importance of other measures of adaptation to climate change - non-structural measures. Such options include awareness campaigns, economic incentives to adaptation, research and development, and projects with a view to train society, like the Clima@EduMedia project and ClimaAdaPT.Local.
In Loulé, there is no doubt about the positive outcome of measures of this kind. “Climate change was included in the municipality's internal agenda, and networking has been an asset. We feel that, at present, we know more about the subject, so we're better able to work towards local adaptation”, said Lídia Terra from the Department of Planning and Territorial Administration (Departamento de Planeamento e Administração do Território - DPAT) of the City Council of Loulé.
The municipality is in the process of evaluating adaptation options in order to respond to problems, such as increased temperatures, heat waves, drought and periods of excessive rainfall, in addition to coastal erosion referred to above.
The technician reports to Clima@EduMedia the possibilities considered by the municipality. The development of an outreach programme extensible to various segments of the population potentially affected by climate change (schools, general population, tourists, farmers, entrepreneurs, etc.); establishing a database that continuously registers extreme events; the enhancement of green spaces and the creation of a plan for the efficient use of water (to respond to heat waves and droughts) are among the possible measures. In April 2016 the municipality expects to finish the respective municipal strategy of adaptation to climate change (EMAAC).
By: Isabel Pereira