Coastal Erosion in the DR

 Coastal Erosion in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic 

Much of the Dominican Republic's coastline is in danger of erosion due to minimally regulated, tourism driven hotel development and the severe impacts of climate change such as sea level rise. While a major percentage of the countries GDP comes from tourism, an approximately $7 billion industry, by not preserving the iconic coastlines, there might not be much left for tourists to see or walk on decades from now. 

The invasiveness of the hotels built so close to the coastline threatens coastal ecosystems that are crucial to minimizing erosion, such as mangrove swamps that act as a natural barrier from winds and storm surges. There was also extensive loss of coastland due to category 4 hurricane Irma and category 3 hurricane Maria in 2017. Researchers estimated that about 208 meters of beach were lost after the hurricanes. 


The image above is of a Punta Cana business owner, Julio Rodriguez, in standing beside the market he used to run. Over 10 years prior, the shore was 25 meters away. We can see just how close the coastline has receded in relation to his business.


How can we help?

The Nature Conservancy as well as the UCSC coastal resilience lab work in Punta Cana to gather spatial data using GIS over time to create erosion models. These models allow researchers to identify the areas at greater risks of erosion to better create plans to preserve and restore them. This includes coral reef restoration! 


Story Maps Arc GIS

A goal for this country is to find a balance between facilitating  a successful tourist industry without increasing the impacts of anthropogenic climate change. Coastal erosion, in part, is a natural process that comes and goes, but rapid development near coastlines, depletion of mangrove forests and coral reefs, and intense hurricanes are amplifying the damage. 


Sources:

https://periodismoinvestigativo.com/2018/04/punta-cana-tourist-paradise-loosing-battle-against-coastal-erosion-and-hotel-development-frenzy/

https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/31253e764c894a688f132914185edefd

https://www.afd.fr/en/actualites/confronting-coastal-erosion-caribbean

Comments

  1. AbrahamBApril 30, 2023 at 11:14 PM

    Hey Maryellen!
    I really enjoyed your blog about coastal erosion in the DR. Its fascinating to know how Julio Rodriguez, a Punta Cana store owner, had a store that was 25 meters away from the coastline just 10 years ago, and his store is now very close to the coastline! Good job

    ReplyDelete

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