Coastal ecosystems: a critical element of risk reduction

Authors

Mark D. Spalding, University of Cambridge
Anna L. McIvor, University of Cambridge
Michael W. Beck, University of Cambridge
Evamaria W. Koch, University of Maryland
Iris Moller, University of Cambridge
Denise J. Reed, Water Institute of the Gulf, Baton Rouge
Pamela Rubinoff, University of Rhode Island
Tom Spencer, University of CambridgeFollow
Trevor J. Tolhurst, University of East Anglia
Ty V. Wamsely, U.S. Army Engineer Research And Development Center, Vicksburg
Bregje K. Van Wesenbeeck, Unit For Coastal And Marine Systems
Eric Wolanski, James Cook University
Colin Woodroffe, University of WollongongFollow

RIS ID

90459

Publication Details

Spalding, M. D., McIvor, A. L., Beck, M. W., Koch, E. W., Moller, I., Reed, D. J., Rubinoff, P., Spencer, T., Tolhurst, T. J., Wamsely, T. V., van Wesenbeeck, B. K., Wolanski, E. & Woodroffe, C. D. (2014). Coastal ecosystems: a critical element of risk reduction. Conservation Letters, 7 (3), 293-301.

Abstract

The conservation of coastal ecosystems can provide considerable coastal protection benefits, but this role has not been sufficiently accounted for in coastal planning and engineering. Substantial evidence now exists showing how, and under what conditions, ecosystems can play a valuable function in wave and storm surge attenuation, erosion reduction, and in the longer term maintenance of the coastal profile. Both through their capacity for self repair and recovery, and through the often considerable cobenefits they provide, ecosystems can offer notable advantages over traditional engineering approaches in some settings. They can also be combined in “hybrid” engineering designs. We make 10 recommendations to encourage the utilization of existing knowledge and to improve the incorporation of ecosystems into policy, planning and funding for coastal hazard risk reduction.