Ms Diop:
 It is good you bring this up once more.

Mr. Sanneh:  thanks for the synopsis. It is indeed assuring to learn that
the study is completed and the government is working very hard to implement
the recommendations. Where do you think I can get a copy of the Consultancy
Report?

I could remember when the topic surfaced on the L last year, one of our
Gambian geologists and an expert in the subject gave us a crash course on
global extent of the phenomenon and the possible links to greater
environmental problems (global warming, sea-level rise, etc). This was in
reponse to my veiw that an important element in the Gambia coastal erosion
equation (one that I think may have been overlooked) is landuse particularly
on either sides of the estuary. Perhaps I should at this stage declare that
my view at the time was and remains largely speculative as there is no
scientific evidence or study that I know of to support it.

The view is that land use along the coast may be playing a much larger role
than natural forces of sea leve rise, El NiNO and global warming as Yero
Mama and others may be suggesting. Specifically the development of
structures such as the Ferry terminal and GPMB facility in Barra may have
had the unintensional consequences of breaking the natural currents that
drive the erosion and deposition around the estuary. Over the years one
cannot fail to notice the creation of new land on the north side of the
estuary (Barra in particular). This area may be as large as the area lost on
the south side (Banjul and the surrounding). In short the recommendation to
dredge around Barra and fill around Banjul may be attempting just that.

Perhaps, I should declare that my expertise is in landuse and land cover
change and not in coastal erosion. Thus my view that the issue is overlooked
and any lasting solution to the problem must include a holistic land use
plan on both north and south of the estuary.

Once again let me say that this is no more than speculation. It would
require some serious study to even understand the natural processes of
erosion  and deposition along the estuary much more how landuse change such
as development of structures like two mentioned  above impact these
processes and their consequences.
  .

Malanding Jaiteh


----- Original Message -----
From: "Sidi Sanneh" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, August 12, 2001 12:07 AM
Subject: Addressing Gambia's Coastal Erosion Problems


> Ms.Diop,
>
> I am assuming that the serious nature of the erosion of Gambia's coastline
> is recognised by all and thus I need not get into the extent of the havoc
> already caused by it. For those who did not take the problem seriously
were
> rudely awakened on the night of 8th February, 2001 when, in the area
> between the Old Muslim Cemetery and "Tonasi" or Alice Carr, the high tide
> crossed the Banjul-SerreKunda Highway. If mitigating measures are not
taken
> now, the highway faces the threat of being engulfed by the ocean,
resulting
> in the isolation of Banjul from the rest of the country. I personally
> inspected the site the same morning of the incident.
>
> The sediment deposition phenomenon at Barra Ferry Terminal is another
> concern of Government and the Department o
> f Works.  Siltation at the Barra
> Ferry access piers has increased, restricted ferry operation to period of
> high tide conditions.  We have two problems facing us here (a) restricted
> ferry operation and (b) the number of Banjul-Barra ferries is now down to
> one.  The first problem can and will be addressed by the proposed Coastal
> Protection Project. The second, I understand, is being addressed through
> the purchase of an additional ferry.
>
> In response to the specific questions posed by Ms. Diop, I shall be as
> brief as possible; a highly risky proposition given the technical
> complexity of the study:
>
> 1. The Coastal Protection Study commenced in January 2000 was successfully
> completed in April 2001. A Dutch consulting firm by the name of HASKONIN
> conducted the study.
>
> 2. The model that was developed during the studies, divided the areas for
> implementing erosion protection measures into four zones. Z
> one 1 (Banjul
> Point to Sand Spit)or old Madi's flats to around Mile 4-5 area. Zone
2(Sand
> spit to Cape Point);Zone 3 (Cape Point to Bakau) and Zone 4 (Bakau to
> Kololi). The protective measures proposed in the erosion zones are
> classified into "soft" (reshaping and restoring the coastline through
suppy
> of sand) and "hard" (rock groynes, revetments and repair of old timber
> groynes). The "soft" measures are common in all four zones whereas the the
> hard measures exclude Zone 4.
>
> 3. Government was presented with four Options including beach restoration
> with sand from "external" source; restoration with sand from spit
involving
> the removal of the sand spit after Wadner Beach and beyond Oyster creek,
> and building by nature.
>
> 4. The sedimentation problem at Barra Ferry Terminal will be addressed
> through a single Option recommended by the consultant i.e. hopper dredging
>
> 5.
> Government opted for Option 1 for reasons of costs and technical
> feasibility among other factors.
>
> An Action Plan already exists and ready for implementation once funds are
> made available by the AfBD and Opec Fund in September, 2001.  The
estimated
> cost of the Project is UA 15.12 million (1UA=GMD17.99=US$1.30)with AfDB
> putting up UA10 million, Opec Fund UA 4.46 million and Govt. UA 1.66
> million.
>
> The estimated starting date and duration is January 2002 to June 2004 (30
> months).  I can assure you Ms. Diop that Government appreciates the
urgency
> of the problem.  Infact, under normal circumstances, this project would
> have been scheduled for funding in the middle of next year but because of
> the incident I cited above, the funding was accelerated so that remedial
> measures could be taken immediately to protect the economic infrastructure
> and the livelihood of almost a quarter of the Gambian population who
>
> depend, directly or indirectly, on tourism.
>
> Sidi Sanneh
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
>
> To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L
> Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html
> You may also send subscription requests to
[log in to unmask]
> if you have problems accessing the web interface and remember to write
your full name and e-mail address.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
>

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L
Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html
You may also send subscription requests to [log in to unmask]
if you have problems accessing the web interface and remember to write your full name and e-mail address.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------