Heavier rainfall and more intense storms from the effects of climate change will lead to a substantial loss of Bermuda's coastline, according to the climate change report.

Bermuda has 290 km of shoreline but with the possibility of a rise in sea levels this century of as much as 0.59 metres, 37 percent of the Island's beaches and dunes will be lost and 32 percent of the rocky coastal habitat will go. If the ice sheets melt and there is a two-metre rise, 59 percent of beaches and dunes will go and 53 percent of the rocky habitat will be lost.

In her climate change report, Dr. Anne Glasspool says: "Bermuda's coastline has been experiencing significant erosion, which has been particularly apparent during recent hurricane events."

Storm surge and wave run-up can bring inundation to cliffs as high as 14 metres, which Dr. Glasspool says explains the erosion of the South Shore Road, west of John Smith's Bay during Hurricane Fabian.

Fabian caused "extensive erosion of the Island's beaches" and also resulted in chunks of the rocky shoreline to collapse.

The double-pinnacled Gurnet Rock, off South Shore, had resisted hurricanes for centuries but the Category Three storm destroyed the larger rear pinnacle.

Also a threat during storms is the invasive casuarina tree. Dr. Glasspool writes: "Facilitating this coastal erosion in many parts of the Island is the shallow-rooting invasive tree, the casuarina. Toppling easily in high winds, the rampant spread of this problematic species along most of Bermuda's rocky shoreline is a real cause for concern."

A post-Fabian Government report in 2004 made recommendations for appropriate shoreline protection. This included sea walls, revetments, breakwaters and dune restoration. Setbacks were also recommended for any building development, plus the removal of casuarina trees.

It has also been noted that rising sea levels and intense storm activity are impacting on Bermuda's seabirds, causing loss of cahow and longtail nests in exposed cliffs and rocky islets.

A 2003 report documented a 27 percent drop in breeding success in natural nest sites for the longtail in Castle Harbour, attributing this to the loss of suitable nest sites.

And with a projected 0.59m sea level rise this century, the cahow nesting islands on three of the five islets in Castle Harbour are threatened.

Protection of open space, specific bird habitats and the corridors between them is recommended. Ongoing provision of artificial nests for cahows and longtails is also suggested.