Restoring Natural Defenses to Help Communities in Coastal Floodplains Adapt to Climate Change
Restoring Natural Defenses to Help Communities in
Coastal Floodplains Adapt to Climate Change
By Shannon E. Cunniff with Environmental
Defense Fund (scunniff@edf.org)
Oyster
and coral reefs, dunes and mangroves act as speed bumps and shock absorbers to reduce
the impacts of rising seas and coastal storms. These natural defenses are cost effective
and provide myriad benefits to coastal communities. Natural defenses can complement traditional approaches
to floodplain management, such as building and zoning codes and hardened
engineered solutions, to create multiple lines of defense against storms. Expanding engineering design
literacy for natural defenses will hasten their acceptance as key features for
building coastal community resilience.
Read the full report here.
