In human history, throughout centuries, coastlines have been used for human settlement and the exploitation of marine resources. The degradation caused by the years of intensive transformations which are still occuring leads to the rise of disasters potential, such as fisheries collapses and great natural disasters as Katrina Hurricane in the United States and the tsunami in Indonesia, both intensified by mangroves and wetlands historical losses. The following graphs present the lost biodiversity in these regions:
History and present state of 12 estuarine and coastal ecosystems in North America, Europe, and Australia. (A) Relative abundance of six taxonomic groups (as arithmetic means) over real time and (B) cultural periods (Pre, prehuman; HG, hunter-gatherer; Agr, agricultural; Est, market–colonial establishment; Dev, market–colonial development; Glo1, global market 1900–1950; and Glo2, global market 1950–2000). (C) Human population growth over real time and (D) cultural period (Baltic and Adriatic, ×10–1; Fundy, ×10; Pamlico, ×102 to fit scale).
As a result of the depletion of coastlines, beaches and local communities are more volatile to natural disasters such as floods and storms as a side effect of climate change and the rise of ocean level.
Many kinds of natural disasters are significantly exacerbated by the sand crisis. Rising temperatures are already increasing the likelihood of severe storms and flooding and this is now coupled with dwindling flood regulation capacity from river degradation, thus leading to worsened intensity of floods overall. River basins also help with flood-risk reduction via the floodplains that are connected to rivers and serve as overflow areas yielding low-impact on surrounding areas. When extraction changes river size and course, it often cuts off these flood plains, rapidly and harshly flooding towns and habitats nearby.
Flooding also severely impacts coastal regions where sand has led to beach erosion as this brings buildings closer to incoming waves, leaving them at higher risk of flooding or collapsing during heavy storms. Recent hurricanes and storm surges have dramatically affected these regions as they have less of a barrier with water now that sand has been taken.
Sand mining can also lead to serious droughts and rivers drying up as a result of projects. There is a lack of regulation in place in most of the world that prevents over-mining, leaving areas reliant on rivers to be left without their main provider of food source and water.
Many kinds of natural disasters are significantly exacerbated by the sand crisis. Rising temperatures are already increasing the likelihood of severe storms and flooding and this is now coupled with dwindling flood regulation capacity from river degradation, thus leading to worsened intensity of floods overall. River basins also help with flood-risk reduction via the floodplains that are connected to rivers and serve as overflow areas yielding low-impact on surrounding areas. When extraction changes river size and course, it often cuts off these flood plains, rapidly and harshly flooding towns and habitats nearby.
Flooding also severely impacts coastal regions where sand has led to beach erosion as this brings buildings closer to incoming waves, leaving them at higher risk of flooding or collapsing during heavy storms. Recent hurricanes and storm surges have dramatically affected these regions as they have less of a barrier with water now that sand has been taken.
Sand mining can also lead to serious droughts and rivers drying up as a result of projects. There is a lack of regulation in place in most of the world that prevents over-mining, leaving areas reliant on rivers to be left without their main provider of food source and water.
Sources:
http://science.sciencemag.org/content/312/5781/1806
http://science.sciencemag.org/content/312/5781/1806/tab-figures-data
https://weather.com/science/environment/news/coastal-sand-mining-erosion-beaches-disappearing-resources/
http://science.sciencemag.org/content/312/5781/1806
http://science.sciencemag.org/content/312/5781/1806/tab-figures-data
https://weather.com/science/environment/news/coastal-sand-mining-erosion-beaches-disappearing-resources/