The Spanish Institute of Environmental Hydraulics of Cantabria (IHCantabria) is implementing a project to mitigate the erosion of the beaches of the Dominican Republic and provide solutions. they lose about 10 meters of sand per year in some areas, with what that means for a tourist country.
IHCantabria researcher Mauricio González is responsible for this “Feasibility Study for Integrated Coastal Management” on behalf of the ministries of Tourism and Environment of the Caribbean country with the financial support of the Inter-American Development Bank, the Spanish University of Cantabria said in a statement.
Work started seven months ago and will continue until next year with one goal: “To stop the process of severe erosion affecting the beaches, the country’s economic engine, in order to keep them in good shape,” explains González explains.
In addition, the Dominican government is committed to the sustainable development of this sun and beach tourism, posing the challenge of seeking environmentally friendly solutions with its ecosystems.
Scientists’ diagnosis places the root of the problem in the effects of the climate crisis as well as anthropic actions.
“In recent years, hurricanes and storms have increased in frequency and intensity, and the action of climate change and people has degenerated the reef and mangrove areas, elements that protect against these hurricanes, as they dissipate energy that reaches the beaches,” Mauricio said González.
According to the researcher, this has resulted in areas where they have been retreating in the order of 100 meters, “the equivalent of an apple” in ten years.
The researchers started by analyzing the problem with the different beaches.
According to González, different locations are being studied, although dDue to the covid-19 pandemic, the work has to be carried out from Cantabria.
This fieldwork involves collecting information about waves, currents, tides and coastal flooding, which is fed into numerical models to represent the different dynamics of erosion. “We analyze the current situation and in climate change scenarios between 50 and 100 years old,” explains the researcher.
In a second phase, the researchers will hold participatory workshops with local actors “who can help with their perception of the problem to provide a solution in the medium and long term.”
All this, according to Mauricio González, will enrich the proposals for mitigating measures to combat this erosion and “that we can have beaches compatible with tourism”, reclaiming square footage of great value for the future of the American country.