[R-G] BENIN: rising sea levels threaten to wipe out parts of Cotonou

[Richard Menec]

<http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?ReportID=80126>

COTONOU, 2 September 2008

(IRIN) - Rising sea levels have destroyed hundreds of homes, hotels, roads 
and harvests, and threaten to engulf large areas of Cotonou, Benin's 
capital.

A government-commissioned study about a year ago recommended urgent action 
to hold back the rising tides, and save the city's ports, airport, and 
coastal communities, but political infighting has blocked funding.

Residents of the city, with a population of about three million people, say 
little has changed - except the advancing sea.

Accountant Finagnon Dossa said storms in March 2007 caused over US$3,000 of 
damage to his property, 500 metres from the coast in the east Cotonou 
district of Donaten.

His retired fisherman neighbour, Jacques, has lived by the sea for 20 years: 
"There is only one explanation. It is coastal erosion. It is a problem all 
over the world. We want to leave," he said.

However, both Jacques and Dossa said they did not have the money to find 
other lodgings inland.

Vacation homes and government buildings dot Benin's 125-km coastline, but 
most of the 100,000 people in east Cotonou - the most vulnerable to sea 
damage from coastal erosion - can ill-afford the advancing sea.

Coastal erosion in the Gulf of Guinea, including Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, 
Benin and Nigeria, has been linked to climate change, and in turn to rising 
sea levels, flooding, and waterborne diseases. (For a recent IRIN report on 
the disappearance of West Africa's coastline, click here)


Threat to industry, tourism, fishing

Benin's Urban Planning Ministry estimates the sea may rise by up to 59m, in 
a worst- case scenario, by the year 2100.

A 2007 study by the UK-based non-profit International Institute for 
Environment and Economic Development (IIED) found coastal erosion could wipe 
out Benin's eastern districts of Donaten, Tokplegbe, Finagnon, 
Akpakpa-Dodomey and JAK, if nothing is done to stop the sea's advance.

IIED mapped out roads, drainage, pavement and coconut plantations that have 
begun to disappear. Researchers said coastal erosion could kill off Benin's 
industrial, fishing and tourism sectors, and wipe out buildings, ports, and 
the airport, as well as other infrastructural facilities.


Pumping of sand banned

Cotonou, which sits on alluvial sand at most four metres deep, drives most 
of Benin's economy, in addition to being a regional trade hub. Its port 
brings in most of the country's customs revenue, and its Danktopa market 
earns over US$750 million annually, according to the IIED.

Until recently, it was legal for companies in Benin to pump sand from the 
beach for construction projects, further shrinking the coast.

The government banned this practice in September 2007, but locals say they 
still see companies hauling away sand.

Gilbert Medje, president of the Benin non-profit organisation, Front United 
Against Coastal Erosion, said the city could not spare the sand, or the 
time.