04-25-2014, 10:28 AM
I've seen beach sands shift drastically just in a 3 month period - so yes, you are correct in that way - what nature takes away, she puts back - most often someplace else.
But to discount erosion as a whole is a mistake. The more development that happens on a beach the more erosion will occur. For every tree, shrub and plant ripped out, the more sand will be lost - that simple environmental science. If the reefs are destroyed, the sands cannot be replaced. A healthy coastline depends on a lot of factors. As somone who first walked Long Bay in 1983 I can tell you the beach there has changed...BP's photos of Bloody Bay break my heart, I remember it that way very clearly and the sand and water are just not that pristine now with all the development and human use. The Long Bay I first walked and enjoyed had more "open space" than not - now its like Las Vegas...sigh. The bush line is pushed back practically to the road so sure, for a time you see more sand but that bush is what keeps the sand stable.
Care must be taken to preserve what's left - here in NoCal there is an ongoing volunteer effort to prevent erosion by planting, limiting development (like - NONE) and constantly watching over polluting factors. It is my hope that Jamaica wakes up one day to see what it has and does what it takes to keep it.
But to discount erosion as a whole is a mistake. The more development that happens on a beach the more erosion will occur. For every tree, shrub and plant ripped out, the more sand will be lost - that simple environmental science. If the reefs are destroyed, the sands cannot be replaced. A healthy coastline depends on a lot of factors. As somone who first walked Long Bay in 1983 I can tell you the beach there has changed...BP's photos of Bloody Bay break my heart, I remember it that way very clearly and the sand and water are just not that pristine now with all the development and human use. The Long Bay I first walked and enjoyed had more "open space" than not - now its like Las Vegas...sigh. The bush line is pushed back practically to the road so sure, for a time you see more sand but that bush is what keeps the sand stable.
Care must be taken to preserve what's left - here in NoCal there is an ongoing volunteer effort to prevent erosion by planting, limiting development (like - NONE) and constantly watching over polluting factors. It is my hope that Jamaica wakes up one day to see what it has and does what it takes to keep it.
"Once in a while you can get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right..."
www.westcountywestend.com