Landuse changes and erosion of pocket beaches in Elba Island (Tuscany, Italy)

Cipriani, L.E., Pranzini, E. Rosas, V. and Wetzel, L. 2011. Landuse changes and erosion of pocket beaches in Elba Island (Tuscany, Italy). Journal of Coastal Research, SI 64 (Proceedings of the 11th International Coastal symposium), 1774 - 1778. Szczecin, Poland, ISSN 0749-0208. The evolution trend of 17 natural pocket beaches (Elba Island, Italy) under "regular" sediment input was studied over a 24 years (average) preceding a 200 year return time flood. Thirteen beaches were found to be eroding, and only two to be naturally accreting, whereas two increased their surface as a consequence of beach nourishment projects carried in the 1990s. Beach erosion in Elba affects beaches independently from their size and wave energy and appears to be a regional process. Coastal structures are mostly absent from these bays (except for Marina di Campo, where a marina breakwater situated on one headland induced beach rotation). Factors triggering coastal erosion were investigated among land use changes that occurred in the Island after World War II: the development of tourism in Elba Island reduced agricultural activities, increased forest coverage and expanded residential areas. During the past 40 years approximately 3200 hectares of agricultural areas were lost; this corresponds to circa 72% of the original area, diminishing the surface susceptible to soil erosion and thus sedimentary input to the coast.