Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
environmental planning legislation is still being developed (Minerbi 1992; Hall and Page
1996).
Minerbi (1992) recorded a number of environmental and ecological impacts associated
with tourism development on Pacific islands (Table 4.8). The range of tourism-related
impacts is similar to that for many other environments (Mathieson and Wall 1982;
Edington and Edington 1986). However, in the case of Pacific islands, tourism impacts
may be more problematic because tourism is concentrated on or near the ecologically and
geomorphologically dynamic coastal environment. Due to the highly dynamic nature of
the coastal environment and the significance of mangroves and the limited coral sand
supply for island beaches in particular, any development which interferes with the natural
system may have severe consequences for the long-term stability of the environment. The
impact of poorly developed tourism projects on the sand cays (coral sand islands) of the
Pacific, for example, has been well documented:
• near-shore vegetation clearing exposes the island to sea storm erosion and decreases
plant material decomposition on the beach, thereby reducing nutrient availability for
flora and fauna
• manoeuvring by bulldozer (instead of hand clearing) results in scarring and soil
disturbance and makes sand deposits loose and vulnerable to erosion
• excessive tapping of the fresh ground-water lens induces salt-water intrusion which then
impairs vegetation growth and human water use and renders the cay susceptible to
storm damage and further erosion
• sewage outfall in shallow water and reef flats may lead to an excessive build-up of
nutrients, thereby causing algal growth which may eventually kill coral
• sea-walls built to trap sand in the short term impair the natural seasonal distribution of
sand resulting, in the long run, in a net beach loss and a reduction of the island land
mass
• boat channels blasted in the reef act as a sand trap; in time they fill with sand which is
no longer circulating around the island; in turn this sand is replaced by other sand
eroded from the vegetated edges, changing the size and shape of the island and in time
threatening the island's integrity (Baines 1987).
Another component of the coastal environment in the Pacific and in other tropical and
subtropical areas which are substantially affected by tourism is the clearing and dredging
of mangroves and estuaries for resorts. Mangroves and estuarine environments are
extremely significant nursery areas for a variety of fish species. The loss of natural
habitat due to dredging or infilling may therefore have a dramatic impact on fish catches.
In addition, there may be substantial impacts on the whole of the estuarine food chain
with a subsequent loss of ecological diversity. A further consequence of mangrove loss is
reduced protection against erosion of the shoreline thereby increasing vulnerability to
storm surge. Therefore, removal of mangroves will not only have an adverse impact on
the immediate area of clearance, but also affect other coastal areas through the transport
of greater amounts of marine sediment (Clarke 1991).
In concluding his examination of the impacts of tourism development on Pacific
islands, Minerbi (1992) was scathing in his criticism of the environmental impacts of
tourism:
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