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eThekwini Shoreline Management Plan, South Africa

Project Summary:

WSP Environment & Energy has been assisting the eThekwini municipality to develop a Shoreline Management Plan for South Durban. We’ve been looking at (amongst other things) how sea level rise and climate change might affect the 25-30 km of shoreline between Durban harbour entrance and Umbogintwini.

 

The Client’s Challenge:

The Integrated Coastal Management Plan requires municipalities to develop management plans in order to manage their coastal zone, set coastal management objectives, and identify priorities and strategies for achieving these. These requirements are part of an initiative to avoid unplanned responses and to protect environmental resources and infrastructure against the potential effects of climate change.

 

Although Shoreline Management Plans are not yet a legal requirement, the eThekwini Municipality has initiated this intervention as a pilot project. The challenge for our clients is to ensure any preliminary plan provides a benchmark for the future development of a guiding framework.

 

Our Work:

WSP Environment & Energy was appointed by the eThekwini municipality to carry out the coordination and development of a Shoreline Management Plan for the South Durban Region. The client brief detailed the importance of understanding the effects climate change might have on local coastal geology, ecology and infrastructure.

 

The assumption that, as an effect of climate change, sea levels will rise played a huge part in shaping the development of the plan. Sea level rise presents profound potential impacts on the coastal zone. As a result, our consultants are carrying out a range of assessments, including:

·          Inundation of wetlands and lowlands and its effects

·          Potential erosion of sandy shorelines and its effects

·          Exacerbation of coastal flooding and its effects.

 

The Outcome:

The preservation of this sensitive and resource-rich 30 km stretch is threefold:

·          It is important for preserving the health of the environment we all live in

·          It allows Durban’s residents to continue enjoying local amenities and facilities

·          It contributes to the local economic development of the area generated by continued tourism

 

The priorities, strategies and recommendations WSP Environment & Energy made permits the safeguarding of this landscape through various “hard” and “soft” protection measures and planning approaches.