Scientist warns of shrinking Ireland
Ireland is shrinking year by year, a leading scientist warned today.
Every year an estimated 750 acres of coastline is swallowed up by the sea and the situation is likely to get worse.
The coastlines of both Northern Ireland and the Republic are vulnerable and poorly managed, Dr Andrew Cooper of the University of Ulster said at an international conference held in Co Antrim.
Urgent action was needed to redress the situation, he said.
Dr Cooper, head of the Coastal Research Group, said Northern Ireland’s current coastal protection plans fell far short of recent EU recommendations.
He warned that impending climate changes in the Earth’s atmosphere will mean that storms will be getting more frequent and powerful.
The North Atlantic will be getting rougher and shorelines, especially on Ireland’s west and north coasts, could suffer increasing damage and destruction if appropriate measures were not taken in the near future, said Dr Cooper.
Every year an estimated 300 hectacres of the Irish coastline is swallowed up by the sea and Ireland’s piecemeal approach to its increasing coastal erosion problem could also hit tourism, households and business as well as having a severe environmental impact, he added.
Dr Cooper said: ‘‘Management of the Irish coast, north and south, is conducted in a piecemeal fashion.
‘‘Much closer co-operation between planning, conservation, social and development interests is required if we are to achieve the goal of Integrated Coastal Zone Management advocated by the EU.
‘‘The growing demands on the coast mean that urgent action is needed.’’
He delivered his warnings to more than 160 scientists from all over the world gathered for the 7th International Coastal symposium, held this week in Templepatrick and hosted by the University of Ulster.
Leading experts on coastal research were presenting and discussing the latest advances in scientific understanding, engineering approaches and environmental issues related to coastal management.
Event co-ordinator Dr Derek Jackson said: ‘‘This is the first time this prestigious conference has ever been held in the British Isles, and it is a reflection of the world class research in this area that is being carried out at the University of Ulster.’’
He said its coastal research team was leading the way in developing innovative approaches to coastal and marine science both nationally and internationally.
The group was unique in the breadth of its research and the conference allowed it to ‘‘showcase our research findings’’, he said.
