The call from Portugal to the sea is much earlier than the time when browsers lusitanos helped clear away the oceans. This link is remembered, almost every year, when the sea galga the sands and destroys what passes through on the way. But will it mar the culprit of these losses that sometimes end in tragedy?
The last winter damage are the clear example of the strength of the sea but also of mismanagement and decades of bad planning on shorelines. The second half of the twentieth century witnessed massive constructions of dwellings in coastal areas of risk, buildings that have been authorised by the competent authorities.
In the last 50 years, the urbanization of the land on the coast has increased 300%, and population residing along the sea grew almost twice as much. However, one in ten homes is currently unoccupied, which suggests that there are more houses in these areas.
These data are part of the project Change, study that analyzed the social dimensions of the crisis in the coastal country from the disordered occupation of the territory and long history of erosive national coast.
The project, which involved researchers from the Institute of social sciences and the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon, coordinated by Louise Schmidt, allowed to make a survey of the various public policies of recent years to the coast and to characterize the amplitude of coastal crisis, tracing still possible scenarios about the impacts of mean sea level rise in Portugal.
The study focused on three key areas of high risk of erosion and disorderly occupation: bar-Vagueira (Aveiro), Costa da Caparica-Fonte da Telha (Almada) and Vale do Lobo, Quarteira (Loulé). These three coastal areas, are the beaches of Aveiro which are exposed to greater risk. With the lagoon on one side and the sea on the other, the area between the bar and the Beach Praia de Mira (the southernmost Vagueira) is the "most vulnerable [to flooding by the sea] at European level", as Louise Schmidt during the presentation of the study. The area north of Praia da Barra also runs great risk, but less than the South, since the dunes of São Jacinto nature reserve helps to avoid the effects of erosion.
Pain pictures Vagueira, Caparica and Quarteira
To the years 1980, lidkoping â€" and adjacent coastal region â€" was a fishermen's Beach, surrounded by farmland fertile enough and, until very recently, you could see fishermen practice Dragnet fishing with the help of oxen. However, from this date, this beach, as well as the Costa Nova and the bar began to be increasingly sought after for bathing. This demand has boosted the disorderly occupation during the years 1990.
Between 1950 to 2011, for example, the resident population between Barra and Vagueira increased 169%. Currently, 42% of dwellings from this site are seasonal occupation houses and 58% are permanent dwellings. Together with the occupation of the coast where the accommodation grew faster than the population, the coastline has suffered a great setback since 1947, approximately 500 metres. This retreat has direct impacts on the entire ecosystem of ria, contributing to their destabilisation.
In a survey done to the people of Barra-Vagueira, Change researchers concluded that 70% of respondents believes that the erosion of the coast is a serious problem and 83% think that climate change will have an impact on this erosion. However, despite acknowledging the risk you're taking, 94% of this population have never participated in public discussions on the subject.
In Costa da Caparica the situation is similar: 86% of the population considers the erosion a serious risk but 96% never became involved in discussion sessions. Such as bar-Vagueira, da Caparica is affected by the problem of erosion and disorderly occupation, being the part of the Grave of the steam more affected by the erosive action of the sea. In 2011, lived around 6,062 households in this area on the southern shore of Lisbon.
However, the higher pressure of population on the Caparica began to feel in the second half of the 20th century, before the occupation of Vagueira. But even 50 years ago, when the occupation of the population still didn't feel that much pressure erosion in this area already was great: between 1957 and 1964, the coastline retreated 100 yards and in 1959 began the construction of groynes for shore protection.
In Quarteira, the sharpest occupancy began to feel in the years 1970, decade in which occurred the construction of first resort in Vale do Lobo. Until then, the Quarteira was a large farm, and its beach was only occupied by fishermen. Vacationers preferred areas as the Praia da Rocha or Monte Gordo to spend their holidays. But, with the opening of Faro airport the picture has changed and also the Quarteira began to be popular for bathing. Later came the foreign tourists.
In 2011, the area of Quarteira, which encompasses Vilamoura and Vale do Lobo, was 8,867 families. In the last ten years the number of accommodation increased 213.1%, building on cliffs and other risk areas. About 68% of dwellings are seasonal, being only 32% of permanent houses. This is the Algarve zone that the population views the coastal erosion as a high risk, with approximately 99% of respondents citing this data.
And how are these beaches in 2100?
The Change project outlined scenarios yet foreseeable on the impacts of climate change on the Portuguese coast, in particular the increase in the mean sea level, boosted by global warming.
Starting from a common base, vulnerability maps were prepared for three scenarios: 2025, 2050 and 2100 â€" the latter being the more serious scenario. Considering only the water level of the sea, without looking at other factors, such as the interaction of tides, erosion, waves interaction with the seafloor and other anthropogenic factors, in scenarios of flooding the coastline, Vagueira, Caparica and Quarteira may have, in 2100, quotas of flood of 4.1 meters. For 2025, quotas for flood Vagueira and Caparica will be, respectively, 2.5 and 2.9 metres. In the case of Quarteira, the values are 2.7 and 3.0 meters for 2025 and 2050.
There is no one key to solve the problem "
Currently, more than 80 entities have competencies in the management of the coastline, with municipalities and parishes are excluded. In shoreline today very diverse populations live and United by a common problem: the increasing vulnerability of coastal places where they installed their homes, investments and activities.
Solutions? According to Louise Schmidt, there is no one key to solving the problem ". The solutions to the Lusitanian coast have been blocked by both the complex legal and political management system as the turbulence of the social dynamics of occupation. The importance of economic values, especially the real estate sector, have also hampered the implementation of solutions. The overlapping of plans of various scales over time and during short legislative cycles has hindered the integration of long-term policies and strategies, as well as the definition of priorities.
Foto: frestivo/Creative Commons
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