L'érosion sur la frange côtière: Un exemple de gestion des risques

Abstract

This paper presents a reflexion on the newly emerging awareness of erosion risk and its management, as illustrated by the seaside resort of Wimereux, in the north of France. Bearing in mind that nature imposes naturally on beaches an intrinsic mobility, and in most cases, a tendency to inland retreat, the trend of man-made setting-ups on the other hand, imposes the very opposite movement towards the shoreline which becomes then artificially fixed. The combination of unpredictable natural phenomena together with a concentration of shoreline man-made infrastructures creates a coastal area of high risk. Wimereux provides us with a probing example of the "telescoping" of natural and man-made phenomena. This convergent dynamic system, at the origin of risks for the coastlines, reflects a tendency observed on most urbanized coasts. As a response to this hazard, coastline management used in France have made progress but considerable difficulties remain in ensuring their successful application. © NSS-Dialogues, EDP Sciences 2004.