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The Science and Management of Nature Based Coastal Protection

Keith Cox

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Published in Living Shorelines: The Science And Management Of Nature Based Coastal Protection (CRC Marine Science)

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Living Shorelines: The Science and Management of Nature-Based Coastal Protection (CRC Marine Science)

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
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Coastal areas are home to some of the world's most populous and economically important regions. However, these areas are also highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, including sea level rise, storm surges, and coastal erosion. Traditional approaches to coastal protection, such as seawalls and breakwaters, can be expensive and environmentally damaging. Nature based coastal protection (NBCP) offers a more sustainable and cost-effective alternative to traditional approaches.

NBCP involves the use of natural ecosystems, such as mangroves, salt marshes, and coral reefs, to protect coastal areas from the impacts of climate change. These ecosystems provide a range of benefits, including wave attenuation, sediment trapping, and carbon sequestration. NBCP can also help to improve water quality, provide habitat for fish and wildlife, and support local communities.

The Benefits of Nature Based Coastal Protection

There are many benefits to using NBCP to protect coastal areas from the impacts of climate change. These benefits include:

Cost-effectiveness: NBCP can be more cost-effective than traditional approaches to coastal protection, such as seawalls and breakwaters.
Environmental sustainability: NBCP is a more environmentally sustainable approach to coastal protection than traditional approaches. Natural ecosystems provide a range of benefits, including wave attenuation, sediment trapping, and carbon sequestration.
Climate change adaptation: NBCP can help coastal areas to adapt to the impacts of climate change, such as sea level rise, storm surges, and coastal erosion.
Improved water quality: NBCP can help to improve water quality by filtering pollutants and trapping sediment.
Fish and wildlife habitat: NBCP can provide habitat for a variety of fish and wildlife species.
Support for local communities: NBCP can support local communities by providing jobs and other economic benefits.

The Challenges of Nature Based Coastal Protection

There are also some challenges to using NBCP to protect coastal areas from the impacts of climate change. These challenges include:

Time lags: Natural ecosystems can take time to develop and mature. This can be a challenge for coastal areas that are facing immediate threats from climate change.
Competition for space: Coastal areas are often densely populated and land is at a premium. This can make it difficult to find space for NBCP projects.
Maintenance: Natural ecosystems require maintenance to ensure that they are functioning effectively. This can be a challenge for coastal areas that have limited resources.
Monitoring: It is important to monitor NBCP projects to ensure that they are meeting their objectives. This can be a challenge due to the complexity of natural ecosystems.

The Opportunities for Nature Based Coastal Protection

Despite the challenges, there are also a number of opportunities for using NBCP to protect coastal areas from the impacts of climate change. These opportunities include:

Innovation: There is a growing body of research on NBCP. This research is leading to the development of new and innovative approaches to NBCP.
Collaboration: NBCP projects often involve collaboration between scientists, engineers, and policymakers. This collaboration can help to ensure that NBCP projects are successful.
Funding: There is a growing number of funding opportunities for NBCP projects. This funding can help to overcome the challenges of NBCP and make it more widely available.

NBCP offers a sustainable and cost-effective approach to coastal protection that can help coastal areas to adapt to the impacts of climate change. While there are some challenges to using NBCP, there are also a number of opportunities. With continued research, collaboration, and funding, NBCP can play a major role in protecting coastal areas from the impacts of climate change.

References

Temmerman, S., Meire, P., Bouma, T. J., Herman, P. M. J., Ysebaert, T., & De Vriend, H. J. (2013). Ecosystem-based coastal defence: opportunities and challenges. Coastal Engineering, 79, 107-121.
Morris, J. T., Sutton-Grier, A. E., & Kelty, R. A. (2016). Nature-based coastal protection: A review of the science and practice. PloS one, 11(7),e0159889.
Natural Resources Defense Council. (2017). The Power of Nature: A Guide to Nature-Based Coastal Protection. Retrieved from https://www.nrdc.org/sites/default/files/nature-based-coastal-protection-report.pdf

Living Shorelines: The Science and Management of Nature-Based Coastal Protection (CRC Marine Science)

5 out of 5