DISAPPEARANCE OF SANDY BEACH CAUSED BY EXCESS DEVELOPMENT OF COASTAL FOREST

AN EXAMPLE OF THE KUJYUKURI COAST IN CHIBA PREFECTURE

Abstract

Disappearance of sandy beach caused by the excess development of coastal forest was investigated along the Kujyukuri coast facing the Pacific Ocean. Since World War II, coastal forest has been created to prevent damages due to wind blown sand. However, coastal forest zone was excessively widened in the natural sand dune areasas well as the construction of protection facilities of themselves such as an earth dike, increasing potential against beach erosion. Furthermore beach erosion took place due to the decrease in longshore sand supply. Thus sandy beach of Kujyukuri coast has narrowed by these causes.