Coastal Zones And Marine
Eco-Systems
The coastal zone is an amalgamation of a variety of ecosystems,
the most notable being the Niger Delta. Other distinguishable
ecosystems are fluvial, estuary, lagoon, creek, mangrove
swamp, beach and surf zones, and offshore. All of these
areas offer sanctuary and habitat for diverse biological
life. This rich biodiversity of the inshore coastal systems
and offshore counterparts are likely to be sensitive to
climate change in different respects.
With increasing global warming and higher temperatures,
a number of phenomena associated with water bodies in
different ecological zones of Nigeria were earlier identified
(#5.2). In addition to those, the following apply particularly
to the coastal zone:
| • Beach erosion and coastal flooding are
widespread due to higher waves generated by onshore
storm winds; |
| • Mangroves adjoining estuaries are receding
due to wave incursion and beach breaching; their
ecosystems largely sustain the rich biodiversity
of the coastal zone; |
| • The receding shoreline coupled with the
30 to 60 km tidal excursion length around the Niger
Delta suggests increasing salinization of upland
ground water; |
| • Sea-beds reworked by storm waves threaten
the integrity of offshore buried oil pipelines leading
to rupture and oil spillage; and |
| • Integrity of coastal engineering infrastructure
and some industrial facilities are undermined by
storm wave scouring and wave run-up, leading to
possible closure of operations and job loss. |
Three principal “end-products” of future
sea-level rise will critically affect the vulnerability
ratings of this sector:
| • Land inundation (incorporating
groundwater salinization, biodiversity loss, infrastructure
destruction and ultimately land loss), |
| • Ocean productivity scenario
(incorporating sea surface storminess and processes
that enhance the productivity of offshore waters,
such as vertical mixing and nutrient enrichment),
and circulation |
| • Pattern sequences (involving
events such as increased storm surges and flooding,
coastal erosion and threats to property and biological
resources, and ultimately, enhanced poverty levels)
|
These all have a myriad of linking effects that are
visible, with vulnerability rankings of high to critical.
Note: for more information on the Climate
Change in Nigeria, visit www.nestinteractive.org
