Landscape degradation in the Jazan coastal desert: Understanding the impact of human activities

Abstract

This study examines the landscape degradation of the Jazan coastal desert in Saudi Arabia and explores strategies to balance tourism development and environmental preservation. The Coastal Scenery Evaluation System (CSES) was utilized to assess the scenic quality of 42 coastal sites, revealing that most sites fell into Classes III, IV, and V. Factors such as coastal erosion, hard structures, urbanization, marine wrack, litter, sewage, and beach driving had a negative impact on the scenic quality of the coastal sites. To enhance the landscape of the Jazan coastline, it is important for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) to give primacy to approaches to the management of coastal scenery that maintain an equilibrium between promoting tourism and safeguarding the environment. These strategies should focus on preserving, enhancing, and restoring coastal scenic characteristics and incorporate the protection and restoration of ecosystems and habitats, sustainable use of resources, natural and cultural heritage conservation, a balance between protection and development, legal and institutional support, identification and assessment of scenic values, stakeholder involvement, resource provision for effective management, and promotion of research and evaluation. Successful implementation of these strategies will lead to increased tourist arrivals and a much-improved coastal management system in the Jazan coastline and other coasts in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia experiencing similar development pressures.

Keywords: Coast deserts; Degradation; Jazan; Landscape; Management.