100 likes | 116 Vues
Explore the impact of ocean rise on wetlands, focusing on Louisiana's threatened coast. Uncover the fallacy of coastal restoration and the need for wetlands to retreat inland for survival. Delve into the Black Swan concept and the challenges posed by geologic subsidence and environmental theories.
E N D
Ocean Rise: The Black Swan of Coastal Ecology Edward P. Richards Professor of Law LSU Law Center richards@lsu.edu http://sites.law.lsu.edu/coast/ Google "the deadly coast"
Chalk Talk • The topography of a coastal wet land • Generally a river delta - where the sweet meets the salt • Gently sloping, low tidal flow • Hurricane climax wetlands • The effect of ocean rise • The local fallacy of coastal restoration • Wetlands can only survive if they can retreat inland
The Black Swan • The Louisiana Coast is the most threatened wetlands in the US • The threat is due to geologic subsidence and to ocean rise. • Environmental groups cannot let go of their theory that coastal loss is due to oil companies. • By buying into the restoration myth, environmental groups empower the state and other players whose only long-term plan is to levee the coast.