Vol. 1,
issue #87, 23 August 2002
African countries unite to curb beach erosion
Environment News Service (ENS, www.ens-news.com) has reported that large parts of the African coastline are receding rapidly, according to newly issued reports by 11 African nations.
The report said that the seafront at Grand-Bassam, in the colonial capital of Côte d'Ivoire, is in danger of crumbling into the Atlantic Ocean. Sections of the Nigerian coastline are disappearing at the rapid rate of up to 30m a year.
According to ENS, the Gambia report tells a similar story, with beach fronts of most of the hotels "washed away", while some of those that are left have invested over US$300,000 protection measures.
Coastal erosion, says Gambia's report, is "one of the most devastating in environmental problems" facing the country.
A new United Nations project aims to call attention to the problem and foster dialogue on solutions, the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) said recently.
The erosion of beaches in the region is causing considerable
problems to the tourist industry.
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