Coastal management and sustainability

Introduction

Coastal environments are dynamic and sometimes highly unstable, subject to both slow and rapid changes.
Human activity in coastal areas, such as development and tourism, often altered these natural processes.
Coastal management aims to protect homes and infrastructure from the threat of coastal processes such as erosion and flooding.

Sustainable Management of the Coast

Sustainability refers to practices and approaches that meet the needs of current generations without compromising the needs of future generations.
Sustainable coastal management involves a balanced approach, ensuring social and economic growth while preserving the coastal environment and flora & fauna.

Approaches to Coastal Management and Sustainability

Soft engineering solutions, such as beach nourishment and dune stabilisation, tend to be more sustainable, working with natural processes rather than against them.
Hard engineering techniques, such as sea walls and groynes, can provide immediate protection but can cause changes to the natural coastal processes, often leading to more problems elsewhere.
Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) refers to the management of the coastal zone for the benefit of all, balancing conflicting demands and protecting natural systems.
Strategic Retreat is considered as a long-term and sustainable solution. Involving moving people and infrastructure away from areas at risk, restoring natural defences such as marshland.
Adaptive management is a systematic approach for improving coastal management by learning from the outcomes of previous strategies.

Case Examples

In the UK, coastal management strategies are often informed by Shoreline Management Plans (SMPs), which look at the predicted changes to the coastline over the next 100 years.
The Holderness Coast (East Yorkshire, UK) provides an example of both hard and soft management techniques.

Benefits and Challenges of Sustainable Coastal Management

Sustainable management can lead to long-term economic benefits through tourism and increased biodiversity.
It involves the local community, leading to better understanding and support of the management plans.
However, achieving sustainability may involve limiting development and might face resistance from stakeholders.
Sustainable strategies, such as managed retreat, could entail resettlement of communities or loss of land.

Conclusion

Sustainable management of coasts is increasingly important due to the threat of climate change.
Sea level rise and increased storminess will exacerbate coastal erosion and flooding.
The focus on sustainability will help ensure that the valuable resources of our coastal areas are preserved for future generations.