Managing beach access and vehicle impacts following reconfiguration of the landscape by a natural hazard event

Abstract

After New Zealand's 7.8 Mw Kaikōura earthquake in late 2016 an unexpected anthropogenic effect involved increased motorised vehicle access to beaches. We show how these effects were generated by landscape reconfiguration associated with coastal uplift and widening of high-tide beaches, and present analyses of the distribution of natural environment values in relation to vehicle movements and impacts. Access changes led to extensive vehicle tracking in remote areas that had previously been protected by natural barriers. New dunes formed seaward of old dunes and have statutory protection as threatened ecosystems, yet are affected by vehicle traffic. Nesting grounds of nationally vulnerable banded dotterel (Charadrius bicinctus bicinctus) co-occur with vehicle tracking. An artificial nest experiment showed that vehicle strikes pose risks to nesting success, with 91% and 83% of nests destroyed in high and moderate-traffic areas, respectively, despite an increase in suitable habitat. Despite gains for recreational vehicle users there are serious trade-offs with environmental values subject to legal protection and associated responsibilities for management authorities. In theory, a combination of low-impact vehicle access and environmental protection could generate win-win outcomes from the landscape changes, but is difficult to achieve in practice. Detailed information on sensitive areas would be required to inform designated vehicle routes as a potential solution, and such sensitivities are widespread. Alternatively, vehicle access areas that accommodate longstanding activities such as boat launching could be formally established using identified boundaries to control impacts further afield. Difficulties for the enforcement of regulatory measures in remote areas also suggest a need for motivational strategies that incentivise low-impact behaviours. We discuss options for user groups to voluntarily reduce their impacts, the importance of interactions at the recreation-conservation nexus, and need for timely impact assessments across the social-ecological spectrum after physical environment changes -- all highly transferable principles for other natural hazard and disaster recovery settings worldwide.