Spatio temporal analysis of coastal erosion and accretion in Gandoca, Limón, Costa Rica (2005-2019) and socio-environmental implications from a community perspective
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15359/revmar.18-1-4Keywords:
changes in the shoreline, South Caribbean, coastal erosion, Gandoca beach, risk perceptionAbstract
The southern Caribbean coast of Costa Rica has experienced accelerated coastal erosion over recent decades, with Gandoca beach emerging as one of the most critical erosion hotspots in the region. This study analyzes erosion and accretion rates along the Gandoca coastal sector during the 2005–2019 period and examines community perceptions of this process. The methodology comprises two components: shoreline change rates were estimated using the DSAS extension within a Geographic Information System, and local perceptions of coastal erosion were explored through a qualitative approach using semi-structured interviews. Results indicate that coastal erosion is severe along most of the beach, with rates ranging from -1.37 m/yr to -2.92 m/yr. A notable exception occurs in a sector upstream of the Sixaola River mouth, where accretion is recorded at 1.43 m/yr; by contrast, the river mouth sector exhibits a net landward displacement of -52 m. Community members associate coastal erosion with land loss from beach retreat and beach-face reduction, and with the decline or absence of sea turtle nesting. This last factor has led to a reduction in tourism-derived income, adversely affecting livelihoods within the Gandoca-Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge.
References
Acosta, C., Barquero, E. & Domínguez, F. (2020). Caracterización de los procesos de erosión costera en el Caribe Sur: Caso Playa Gandoca, Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Gandoca-Manzanillo, Limón, Costa Rica. (Tesis de licenciatura no publicada). Universidad Nacional, Costa Rica.
Alfaro-Chavarría, H., Zumbado-González, J., & Govaere-Vicarioli, G. (2024). Extreme Wave Analysis for Costa Rican Coasts Based on Calibrated Reanalysis and Comparative Analysis. Ribagua, 11(1), 15-28. https://doi.org/10.1080/23863781.2025.2474952
Arroyo, I. & Linkimer, L. (2021). Modelo unidimensional de velocidades sísmicas y características tomográficas tridimensionales del Caribe Sur de Costa Rica. Rev. Geol. Amér. Central, 65, 1-15.
Barrantes-Castillo, G. (2023, mayo). Erosión costera en Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Gandoca-Manzanillo, Costa Rica, América Central. Ponencia presentada en el VI Congresso Internacional de Riscos, Coimbra, Portugal.
Barrantes-Castillo, G., Arozarena-Llopis, I., Sandoval-Murillo, L. F. & Valverde-Calderón, J. F. (2020). Playas críticas por erosión costera en el caribe sur de Costa Rica, durante el periodo 2005-2016. Rev. Geogr. Amér. Central, 1(64), 95-122. https://doi.org/10.15359/rgac.64-1.4
Barrantes-Castillo, G. & Ortega-Otarola, K. (2023). Coastal erosion and accretion on the Caribbean coastline of Costa Rica long-term observations. J. S. Am. Earth Sci., 127, 104371. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsames.2023.104371
Barrantes-Castillo, G. & Sandoval Murillo, L. F. (2021). Cambios en la línea de costa en el Caribe Sur de Costa Rica durante el periodo 2005-2016. Rev. Cienc. Ambient., 55(2), 111-140. https://doi.org/10.15359/rca.55-2.6
Barrantes, R. A. (2002). Investigación: Un camino al conocimiento, un enfoque cualitativo y cuantitativo. Costa Rica. EUNED.
Bird, E. C. F. (2008). Coastal Geomorphology: An Introduction. EE. UU. Wiley.
Boak, E. H. & Turner, I. L. (2005). Shoreline definition and detection: A review. J. Coast. Res., 2005(214), 688-703. http://dx.doi.org/10.2112/03-0071.1
Buzinde, C. N., Manuel-Navarrete, D., Kerstetter, D. & Redclift, M. (2010). Representations and adaptation to climate change. Ann. Tour. Res., 37(3), 581-603. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2009.10.018
Camacho, E., Hutton, W. & Pacheco, J. F. (2010). A new look at evidence for a Wadati–Benioff Zone and active convergence at the North Panama Deformed Belt. Bull. Seismol. Soc. Am., 100(1), 343-348. https://doi.org/10.1785/0120090204
Canet, G. (2015). Recuperación de la cobertura forestal en Costa Rica, logro de la sociedad costarricense. Ambientico, 253, 17-22.
Calil, J., Reguero, B. G., Zamora, A. R., Losada, I. J. & Méndez, F. J. (2017). Comparative Coastal Risk Index (CCRI): A multidisciplinary risk index for Latin America and the Caribbean. PLOS ONE, 12(11), e0187011. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0187011
CEPAL. (Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe). (2015). Efectos del cambio climático en la costa de América Latina y el Caribe: Dinámicas, tendencias y variabilidad climática. Chile. Naciones Unidas.
Ford, M. (2012). Shoreline changes on an urban atoll in the Central Pacific Ocean: Majuro Atoll, Marshall Islands. J. Coast. Res., 28(1), 11-22. https://doi.org/10.2112/JCOASTRES-D-11-00008.1
Hidalgo-Mayo, A., Mitrani-Arenal, I. & Pérez-Rivas, G. (2023). Detección de cambios en la altura de la ola significativa en las costas cubanas. Rev. Cubana Meteorol., 29(3), 1-11.
Himmelstoss, A., Henderson, R., Kratzamann, M. & Farris, A. (2018). Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) (5.0). EE. UU.: U. S Geological Survey.
IMN. (Instituto Meteorológico Nacional). (2017). Clima de Costa Rica: el clima y las regiones climáticas de Costa Rica. https://www.imn.ac.cr/clima-en-costa-rica
Lizano, O. G. (2006). Algunas características de las mareas en la costa Pacífica y Caribe de Centroamérica. Rev. Cienc. Tecnol., 24(1), 51-64.
Lizano, O. G. (2009). Climatología del viento y oleaje frente a las costas de Costa Rica, parte 1. Rev. Cienc. Tecnol., 25(1-2), 42-56.
Lizano, O. G. (2013). Erosión en las playas de Costa Rica, incluyendo la Isla del Coco. InterSedes, 14(27), 06-27.
Luijendijk, A., Hagenaars, G., Ranasinghe, R., Baart, F., Donchyts, G. & Aarninkhof, S. (2018). The state of the world’s beaches. Sci. Rep., 8(1), 6641. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-24630-6
Morales, E., Wincker, P. & Herrera, M. (2019). Costas de Chile: Medio natural, cambio climático, ingeniería oceánica, gestión costera. Chile.: Servicio Hidrográfico y Oceanográfico de la Armada de Chile.
Moore, L. J. (2000). Shoreline mapping techniques. J. Coast. Res., 16(1), 111-124.
Ñaupas-Paitán, H., Mejía-Mejía, E., Novoa-Ramírez, E. & Villagómez-Paucar, A. (2014). Metodología de la investigación cuantitativa-cualitativa y redacción de la tesis (4.ª ed.). Colombia: Ediciones de la U.
Pang, T., Wang, X., Nawaz, R. A., Keefe, G., & Adekanmbi, T. (2023). Coastal erosion and climate change: A review on coastal-change process and modeling. Ambio., 52, 2034-2052. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-023-01901-9
PROAMBI. (Programa Ambiental). (1996). Plan de manejo para el Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Gandoca Manzanillo. Costa Rica. Sin editorial.
Rangel-Buitrago, N. G., Anfuso, G. & Williams, A. T. (2015). Coastal erosion along the Caribbean coast of Colombia: magnitudes, causes and management. Ocean Coast. Manag., 114, 129-144. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2015.06.024
Sandoval-Murillo, L. & Barrantes-Castillo, G. (2021). Cambios en la cobertura de la tierra en los puntos calientes de erosión costera en el Caribe sur de Costa Rica, durante el periodo 2005- 2017. Uniciencia, 35(2), 1-23. https://doi.org/10.15359/ru.35-2.6
Scott, D., Simpson, M. C. & Sim, R. (2012). The vulnerability of Caribbean coastal tourism to scenarios of climate change related to sea level rise. J. Sustain. Tour., 20(6), 883-898. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2012.699063
Thampanya, U., Vermaat, J. E., Sinsakul, S., & Panapitukkul, N. (2006). Coastal erosion and mangrove progradation of Southern Thailand. Estuar. Coast. Shelf Sci., 68(1-2), 75-85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2006.01.011
Valverde, J. & Barrantes-Castillo, G. B. (2024). Variación del nivel del mar en el caribe de Costa Rica, Centroamérica. Bol. Invest. Mar. Cost., 53(2), 85-102. https://doi.org/10.25268/bimc.invemar.2024.53.2.1317
Vallarino Castillo, R., Negro Valdecantos, V. & del Campo, J. M. (2023). Understanding the impact of hydrodynamics on coastal erosion in Latin America: A systematic review. Front. Environ. Sci., 11, 1267402. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2023.1267402
Vázquez, L. & Barrantes-Castillo, G. (2025). Percepciones locales de la conservación y de los impactos del cambio climático: El caso de Gandoca, Costa Rica. Bol. Grup. Trab. Pueblos Indíg. Auton. Derech. Colect., (12), 16-25.
Vousdoukas, M. I., Ranasinghe, R., Mentaschi, L., Plomaritis, T. A., Athanasiou, P., Luijendijk, A. & Feyen, L. (2020). Sandy coastlines under threat of erosion. Nat. Clim. Chang., 10(3), 260-263. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-020-0697-0
Ye, Y., Lai, X., Pan, G., Li, Q., Zhuang, Z., Liu, D., Chen, X., ... & He, X. (2017). Chapter 7-Coastal Erosion. In Y. Ye, X. Lai, G. Pan, Q. Li, Z. Zhuang, D. Liu, X. Chen, Y. Wei, J. Chen, T. Hu, X. Chen, W. Zhan, Q. Li, S. Tian, D. Li, & X. He (Eds.), Marine Geo-Hazards in China (pp. 269-296). China.: Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-812726-1.00007-3
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Gustavo Barrantes-Castillo, José Francisco Valverde Calderón, Francisco Domínguez Barros, Estefanía Barquero Alvarado, Carolina Acosta Quesada
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
General terms and conditions
Revista Ciencias Marinas y Costeras by Universidad Nacional is located under a Licencia Creative Commons Atribución-NoComercial-SinDerivadas 3.0 Costa Rica.
The journal is hosted in open-access repositories such as the Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad Nacional, the Repositorio Kimuk de Costa Rica and la Referencia.
The editorial source of the journal must be acknowledged. For this purpose, use the doi identifier of the publication.
Self-archiving policy: The journal allows the self-archiving of articles in their refereed version, edited and approved by the Editorial Board of the Journal so that they are available in Open Access through the Internet. More information at the following link: https://v2.sherpa.ac.uk/id/publication/28915
