The Coastal Barrier Resources Act: Protecting Coastal Areas and Promoting Sustainable Development
The National Park Service recently acquired two houses in Rodanthe, North Carolina, as part of its efforts to prevent them from being lost to the sea. Ironically, these houses were built along the beachfront due to federal incentives that not only provided funding for infrastructure development but also subsidized flood insurance in flood-prone areas. However, such investments have been deemed counterproductive and unsustainable.
The Coastal Barrier Resources Act (CBRA)
In response to these concerns, Rep. Thomas B. Evans, Jr., R-Del., and Sen. John Chafee, R-R.I., developed legislation over 40 years ago that led to the creation of the Coastal Barrier Resources Act (CBRA). The CBRA aims to protect taxpayers from bearing the financial burden of flooding and storm damages by withdrawing federal subsidies in undeveloped coastal areas designated by Congress. If individuals choose to develop in these areas, they do so at their own risk without federal support or insurance.
Today, the CBRA system safeguards over 3.5 million acres along the Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, Great Lakes, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico coasts. In Virginia alone, nearly 164,000 acres are protected under the CBRA. A 2019 study revealed that the CBRA has reduced federal disaster-related expenditures by $9.5 billion and has helped protect upland communities from storm surges. During Hurricane Sandy, undeveloped coastal areas prevented over $625 million worth of additional damage.
Furthermore, the CBRA system provides significant benefits to sport and commercial fisheries, waterfowl hunting, and birdwatching by preserving coastal habitats.
The Bolstering Ecosystems Against Coastal Harm Act (BEACH Act)
Recognizing the success and importance of the CBRA, U.S. Rep. Jen Kiggans, R-Virginia Beach, has introduced HR5490, known as the Bolstering Ecosystems Against Coastal Harm Act (BEACH Act). This legislation aims to expand the CBRA system by adding 290,000 acres of new protected areas nationwide, with over 96,000 acres in Virginia. By doing so, the BEACH Act will help prevent development in vulnerable coastal regions, safeguarding them from harm while preserving essential natural systems that contribute to the health of the Chesapeake Bay and provide vital habitats.
The BEACH Act has garnered bipartisan support, as evidenced by the introduction of a companion bill, S2958, in the U.S. Senate by Sens. Tom Carper, D-Del., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. This Senate bill builds upon the House bill by including a provision for a coastal hazards pilot project to address the impact of sea level rise within the CBRA system.
Addressing Sea Level Rise and Ensuring Sustainable Development
Coastal areas, particularly in Virginia, are highly vulnerable to sea level rise. Virginia has experienced the highest rate of relative sea level rise on the East Coast. It is crucial to develop strategies to relocate critical assets inland and adapt to rising sea levels. Failure to do so may result in the loss of significant acreage within the CBRA system nationally and in Virginia.
Virginia has already taken steps to address sea level rise by incorporating it into various statutes governing coastal lands and development. Maryland has also begun mapping coastal areas to identify wetlands migration corridors, allowing critical habitats to move inland strategically. The CBRA pilot project proposed in the Senate bill would enable the federal government to contribute to these efforts, accelerating progress in the mid-Atlantic region.
Currently, few federal agencies are actively planning for the migration of their facilities or activities in response to sea level rise. It is imperative to adopt proactive measures rather than relying on reactive approaches. The CBRA pilot program can serve as a pioneering initiative, guiding both federal and state agencies in developing sustainable strategies for the future.
The BEACH Act: Protecting Coastal Areas and Ensuring Resilience
The BEACH Act, with its inclusion of the Coastal Hazards pilot project, addresses the immediate flood response and habitat needs while also considering long-term resilience. By expanding the CBRA system and conducting research on coastal hazards and sea level rise, the BEACH Act promotes sustainable development and protects valuable coastal ecosystems.
Skip Stiles is a senior advisor to Wetlands Watch, a Norfolk-based, statewide nonprofit organization. Email him at skip.stiles@wetlandswatch.org.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
- SDG 13: Climate Action
- SDG 14: Life Below Water
- SDG 15: Life on Land
The article discusses the Coastal Barrier Resources Act (CBRA) and the proposed Bolstering Ecosystems Against Coastal Harm Act (BEACH Act), which aim to protect coastal areas from flooding and storm damages. These initiatives are connected to SDG 11, as they promote sustainable cities and communities by preventing taxpayers from being on the hook for damages and reducing federal disaster-related expenditures. Additionally, they contribute to SDG 13 by addressing climate action through the protection of coastal areas vulnerable to sea level rise. The preservation of coastal habitats also aligns with SDG 14 and SDG 15, which focus on life below water and life on land, respectively.
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- Target 11.5: By 2030, significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected and substantially decrease the direct economic losses relative to global gross domestic product caused by disasters, including water-related disasters, with a focus on protecting the poor and people in vulnerable situations.
- Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
- Target 14.2: By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans.
- Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species.
Based on the article’s content, the specific targets that can be identified are reducing economic losses caused by water-related disasters (Target 11.5), strengthening resilience to climate-related hazards and natural disasters (Target 13.1), sustainably managing and protecting marine and coastal ecosystems (Target 14.2), and taking urgent action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats (Target 15.5).
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
Yes, there are indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets. These include:
- Reduction in federal disaster-related expenditures (Indicator for Target 11.5)
- Prevention of additional damage during Hurricane Sandy (Indicator for Target 11.5)
- Expansion of protected areas under CBRA and BEACH Act (Indicator for Target 14.2)
- Preservation of critical habitat and open areas (Indicator for Target 15.5)
These indicators can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets by assessing the financial impact of disasters, the effectiveness of coastal protection measures during specific events, the increase in protected areas, and the preservation of habitats.
4. Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities | Target 11.5: By 2030, significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected and substantially decrease the direct economic losses relative to global gross domestic product caused by disasters, including water-related disasters, with a focus on protecting the poor and people in vulnerable situations. | – Reduction in federal disaster-related expenditures – Prevention of additional damage during Hurricane Sandy |
| SDG 13: Climate Action | Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries. | – Reduction in federal disaster-related expenditures – Prevention of additional damage during Hurricane Sandy |
| SDG 14: Life Below Water | Target 14.2: By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans. | – Expansion of protected areas under CBRA and BEACH Act |
| SDG 15: Life on Land | Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species. | – Preservation of critical habitat and open areas |
Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.
Source: pilotonline.com
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