Reef Ball Foundation Photos and Project Description Database

Shoreline erosion and rising sea levels are important concerns to tropical islands whose economy depends on coastal tourism, especially with the threats of sea level rise associated with global warming. This has led to the development of studies to monitor these natural hazards. Bird Island was approached by the Seychelles Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources' Coastal Zone Management Unit to take part in a national long term beach monitoring programme. Bird Island?s owner and its Manager were particularly interested to take part in this long term project. This is because in the late ?80?s and early ?90?s Bird Island suffered a major cycle of erosion. As a result the complete rebuilding of the Lodge was necessary as the existing Lodge was being washed into the sea. Over 75m of land was lost to the ocean.

The tip of Leadbetter Point is part of the Willapa National Wildlife Refuge. Nearly 11,000 acres of the refuge have been lost to erosion since 1937. Accreting beaches on Leadbetter Point have provided nesting habitat for the Snowy Plover, an endangered shorebird. Over 330 acres of sand dunes, potential nesting habitat for the Snowy Plover, have disappeared from Cape Shoalwater over the decades.