Coastal Protection – Inspired by Nature

18 October 2022, by Franziska Neigenfind

Photo: Philipp Jordan

Edge of a salt marsh, dotted with common glasswort, in Westerhever, Germany

Flooding, storms, and erosion: climate change is impacting coastal regions and endangering the people living in them. What are referred to as Nature-based Solutions can facilitate climate impact adaptation, effectively combining and balancing engineering, nature conservation, and human beings’ need for natural landscapes.

Prof. Peter Fröhle and Philipp Jordan analyzed the potential of such solutions. To do so, they assessed seven ecosystems and their services for coastal protection, the environment, and societal benefits: for example, mangroves’ aerial roots dampen waves before they can reach the shore, reducing the destructive forces of storms and tsunamis. Reef systems consisting of corals, crustaceans or oysters can also be effective breakwaters. On beachlines, dunes protect the hinterland from flooding. Salt marshes, which form natural transitional zones between the ocean and land, can buffer flooding. Using these ecosystems as Nature-based Solutions for certain regions can support coastal protection and nature conservation alike. Intact ecosystems, backed by targeted support, can effectively and sustainably complement existing coastal protection.

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