Sustainable coastal zone management strategies for the unconsolidated odisha coastal tract, India

Global climate change may increase sea level as much as 1m over the next century and in some stretches and also augmented the frequency and severity of storms. Hundreds of thousands of square kilometers of coastal wetlands and other lowlands could be submerged. Beaches could move back as much as a few hundred meters and protective structures may be breached. Flooding would threaten lives, agriculture, livestock, buildings and infrastructures. Saltwater would advance landward into aquifers and up estuaries threatening water supplies, ecosystems and agriculture in some areas. Some nations are particularly vulnerable. Even in nations that are not on the whole predominantly vulnerable to sea level rise, some areas could be dangerously threatened. Examples include India, Bangladesh and other areas economically dependent on fisheries or sensitive to changes in estuarine habitats. As a result of present population growth and development coastal areas worldwide are under rising pressure. In addition augmented exploitation of non-renewable resources is debasing the purposes and values of coastal zones in many parts of the world. Consequently, populated coastal areas are becoming more and more susceptible to sea level rise and other impacts of climate change. Even a minute rise in sea level could have unfavorable effects. So the sustainable coastal zone management is necessary instantly in the low lying coastal zone. The approaches of the sustainable coastal zone management are described in the present attempt.