Geological experts warn that Shanghai is rapidly losing its
waterfront and if efforts to protect beaches aren't made soon, the
coastline along the Yangtze River will shrink to half its size in
20 years.?
The city now has about 386 square kilometers of beachlands
scattered mainly along Nanhui, Chongming, Hengsha Island,
Jiuduansha outside Pudong Airport and Jinshan Island.
"The beaches cannot just be exploited by man's feet but must be
preserved for nature. They are very important to balance the
biological environment," said Liu Shouqi, secretary general of
Shanghai Geological Society.
Liu's group has just finished a research project on the
evolution and potential of beach resources in Shanghai suburb's,
and has found disturbing evidence of potential erosion problems
facing the area.
To the densely populated Shanghai, beaches are the only source
available for the city to expand territorially.
According to Shanghai's general urban construction and land-use
plans, by 2010, the city will reclaim more than 400 square
kilometers of land from alluvial beaches.
However, as the sand carried down from the upper and middle
reaches of the river decreases, there will be no new beaches formed
and existing beaches likely to wash away.
Affected by construction at the massive Three Gorges dam
project, the South-North water transfer project and forestation
work in the upper and middle reaches of the Yangtze River, the sand
content in the water is facing gradually reduction.
Liu said if the sand drops below 250 million tons a year, while
sea level continues to rise, the city will lose 89 square
kilometers of coastline annually within two decades.
"Instead of continually exploiting the coast, the government
should protect the sand to preserve the remaining beaches," he
said, "and adjust its land reclaiming plans to reduce the pressure
upon the coasts."
(China Daily October 27, 2003)