Coastal Erosion Along the VMD Coast
摘要
This chapter illustrates the four most common erosion processes that prevailed along the VMD coast. These were (a) eroding areas with remnants of pond dikes, (b) eroding areas with vertically collapsed blocks, (c) eroding areas with exposed agricultural areas, and (d) eroding areas with the construction of sea dikes and sluice gates. These processes were illustrated and summarized using photographs taken during field trips, the information obtained from semi-structured interviews regarding the management and use of these sites. The illustrations and summaries demonstrate the roles of natural and anthropogenic factors in contributing to coastal erosion. Anthropogenic factors included policy-based activities such as clearing natural mangrove vegetation to make way for planting and the excessive use of coastal mangrove forests to expand development areas beyond permitted limits. These factors have fragmented and exposed existing mangrove forests to erosion. Natural factors, such as strong waves and seasonal currents, repeatedly penetrated these fragmented, vulnerable areas, eventually causing them to collapse and uproot mature Rhizophora trees.