Coastal Hazards
Global warming is causing the mean sea level to rise, which according
to Climate.gov,
has risen 8–9 inches since 1880. There is very little current information on Venezuela’s
coastline because conservationists have a hard time getting statistics and are
even prevented by the government from researching threats to local ecosystems. Rising
sea levels and coastal erosion have a major impact on the coastline, but there
are other contributing factors, and it is the very reason why the Venezuelan
government prevents research. According to a report from the Political Ecology
Observatory of Venezuela (OEP),
the Venezuelan government has “continued to consolidate legal provisions that
favor both extractive activities throughout the country and their operation
without controls or social or political interpellation (Anti-Blockade Law, Law
of Special Economic Zones), which fundamentally favor foreign investors and
nationals, and power groups, to the detriment of nature and communities.” The
report notes the continuing difficulty of tracking environmental parameters in
Venezuela, due to the lack of transparency by government at all levels.
We know that Venezuela suffers from earthquakes, flooding, and other natural causes that contribute to coastline erosion, but it is largely oils spills that are ruining the beautiful coast. One researcher said it could take more than half a century to fully recover from the environmental impacts of a recent oil spills. Beach nourishment projects and seawalls were utilized to help minimize the effects of coastal hazards, however, a lot more needs to change. Venezuela beaches are very huge tourist attractions as well as a popular hangout for the locals. Erosion will reduce the recreational use of these beaches, thus interfering with tourism revenues.
https://news.euro-24.com/news/amp/135870
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