Trust nature to defend deltas against rising seas

The following article has been penned by Marc Goichot who is a geographer specializing in the management of large rivers with a specific interest in sediment management fluvial geomorphology, flood management and the promotion of free-flowing rivers. The article carries the title, Trust nature to defend deltas against rising seas.

Doubtless it sounds crazy to anyone who has watched a sandcastle crumble as the tide washes in, but the key to stopping the world’s densely populated deltas from sinking beneath the waves is sand. Or rather sediment: the combination of gravel, sand, silt and clay that large rivers carry down to the sea and deposit on deltas. Sediment that constantly and naturally replenishes deltas, keeping them – and all the people, fields, industries, cities and wildlife that rely on them – above the water. Instead, communities, cities and countries have continued to put their faith in concrete solutions to try and stop floods, saltwater intrusions and erosion, and reduce the impact of extreme weather events. But these efforts always end up being little more than short-term “solutions” because they are a response to the symptoms, not a cure for the root causes of the crises facing deltas across the world.

So it is extremely significant that the recent IPCC special report specifically refers to the important role river sediment plays in replenishing deltas and counteracting land subsidence. And stabilizing deltas is becoming ever more urgent. The report predicts that hundreds of millions of people in low-lying areas could be at risk from climate change, while acknowledging that the ground is already sinking beneath the streets and skyscrapers of many of the mega-cities sprawling across Asian deltas – including Bangkok and Shanghai. The reason is clear. The amount of sediment flowing along most major rivers has been drastically reduced over recent decades, trapped behind an ever increasing number of hydropower dams and extracted by accelerating demand for sand and gravel for construction and land reclamation. As with carbon-dioxide emissions, there is a lengthy time-lag between changes in sediment supply and the impact on deltas. And, also like CO2 emissions, we might have already unknowingly passed some dangerous thresholds.

So what to do? That’s what more than 100 experts from around the world were grappling with in Bangkok at a Regional Forum on Building Resilient Asian Deltas. One answer is already crystal clear. Urgent steps need to be taken to avoid any further reduction in sediment loads: Critically, this means opting for solar and wind projects rather than new hydropower dams on free-flowing rivers and ensuring that sand mining is regulated and sustainable.

But surprisingly, the report does not take the obvious next step: recommending that efforts are made to ensure the natural processes of transport and deposition of sediment that underpin the stability of Asia’s deltas – and the societies, economies and ecosystems that depend on them – are protected or restored. Instead, the report falls back on responses that do not measure up to the challenge: more hard infrastructure, moving people away from rapidly eroding shorelines, and expansion of mangrove forests to provide natural protection against storms and sea-level rise.

All these have a part to play because the complex crisis facing deltas requires a concerted, multifaceted approach. But they are just part of the solution. And they are doomed to failure unless they are supported by sediment flow in rivers.

Let’s take just one example: planting mangroves to act as buffers and help coastal areas adapt to climate change. There is no doubt that they improve resilience: the issue is for how long, because mangroves have an Achilles’ heel. Guess what? Sediment. Without enough new sediment, mangroves in deltas and estuaries (representing more than 60% of all mangroves on Earth) cannot thrive, let alone successfully contribute to “coastal protection.” The extent to which mangroves can be conserved or replanted fundamentally depends on sediment supply. Many mangrove rehabilitation or restoration projects – often implemented at a considerable cost – unfortunately overlook this fundamental criterion and will therefore fail to achieve their long-term goals. It is now clear that Asian deltas are going to be hit very soon by the worsening impacts of climate change, and very hard. Existing adaptation plans and levels of investment fall far short of what is necessary. There is the need for a transformative and new approach to address such a complex challenge.

Because back at the beach, what do you do when the sea starts lapping at the edges of your sand castle? You dig a trench to divert the water. Then build a wall to block it. All to no avail. The only way to keep your precious mound of sand above the seas is to keep bringing more sand from further up the beach. Just like healthy rivers do.

AJ/MG