Just a few weeks ago, the Legacy Beach and Bar, located on the United Nations Drive, Monrovia, drew in a regular stream of high value customers with its safe, mature and relaxing atmosphere in the diplomatic enclave of Mamba Point. The Coconut trees, ocean view, fresh air, and the sound from the rolling sea enticed many to stop by to enjoy its sumptuous menu comprising a selection of grilled seafood, meats, salads, other items, as well as drinks.
But this is not the case anymore. In August this year, the sea suddenly washed away the beachfront of the once-vibrant bar, including several decades-old coconut trees and a number of concrete fixtures that gave the bar its unique design.
What remains now stands as a stark reminder that the sea is rising mainly due to climate change.
“We lost all the customers,” said Yatta Bono, business manager. Bono said they are mobilizing funds to spread boulders (huge rocks) to create a barrier that would prevent further encroachment by the sea, while the business works to restore its previous look that drew customers in. She said the sudden, massive erosion has caused many customers to stay away, which has affected their sales.
Sea erosion caused by rising sea levels as a result of climate change is a significant issue in Liberia, with coastal communities paying the high price. Homes, businesses, and infrastructure are being washed away, with Mamba Point becoming the latest victim.
Nearly 58 percent of the country’s population lives within 40 miles of the coast. These inhabitants mostly relied on fishing, putting extensive pressure on coastal ecosystems for food.
Experts have warned that climate change is leading to rising sea levels, which are impacting coastal communities and their inhabitants; the impact might be severe on their lives.
West Point, New Kru Town, Popo Beach, and Marshall are communities affected in Montserrado and Margibi counties. Other communities include Sinoe, Rivercess, Robertsport, and Buchanan, Grand Bassa counties, where 200,000 residents are affected by sea erosion.
Legacy Beach and Bar which sits on a single-lot, is not alone. The adjoining properties to the left and right of it are severely affected. A shared fence on one side of the bar broke in two, with the front portion of it now sunk into the sand instead of collapsing. The neighboring house that shared the wall of that fence is now uninhabitable.
And what used to be a gradual slope from the beach bar to the sand, where customers could recline and enjoy their visit, is now a 10-foot cliff. Property owners in Mamba Point are concerned that the damage caused by the erosion is dangerously close to the street.
Abel Dennis, a resident also affected by the sea erosion in Mamba Point, said the sea had never caused damage in the area before, but they were shocked at how the sea broke down their properties. He said criminals have started using the open area to steal from them.
Dennis echoed the appeal sounded by Bono, Legacy’s manager, for more rocks to backfill the area to prevent further damage to their properties due to sea encroachment.
Sea erosion has greatly concerned the Liberian government and its partners. In 2010, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Government of Liberia launched the Enhancing Resilience of Vulnerable Coastal Areas to Climate Change Risks in Liberia (Coastal Defense Project for short) with funding from the Global Environment Facility Least Developed Countries Fund (GEF).
The project aimed to reduce vulnerability and build resilience of local communities and socio-economic sectors to withstand the threats of climate change in Liberia’s coastal areas.
The project includes constructing breakwater systems to protect communities from the encroaching sea. However, there is no vivid evidence of the impact of the project. Many of these communities where the revetment wall was built are still experiencing coastal erosion.
Source: Liberian Observer
