Managing coastal recession and flood risk Flashcards
Hard engineering
involves encasing the coastline in stone and steel. Aims to directly stop processes or alter them to protect the coast
Hard engineering methods
- rock armour
- groynes
- sea wall
- rock breakwater
- revetments
Advantages of hard engineering
- people know something is being done
- can be a one off that protects coastline for years
Disadvantages of hard engineering
- costs are high
- prone to failure
- visually unattractive
- have adverse effects in other places
Soft engineering
works with natural physical systems and processes to reduce the coastal erosion and flood threat
advantages of soft engineering
less obvious
less intrusive
cheap
Disadvantages soft engineering
not suitable for all coasts
soft engineering methods
- beach nourishment
- cliff regrading and drainage
- dune stabilisation
Sustainable coastal management
Managing the wider coastal zone in terms of people and their economic livelihood, social and cultural wellbeing, safety from coastal hazards, as well as minimising environmental and ecological impacts
aspects of sustainable coastal management
- monitoring coastal change and adapting to unexpected trends
- educating communities to understand why change is needed and how to adapt
- adapting to sea level rise by relocating, alternative building methods and water supplies
- creating alternative livelihoods to those lost to the sea
- managing flood and erosion risk or relocating to safe areas
- managing natural resources to ensure long term productivity
Why does sustainable coastal management cause conflict?
- coastal natural resources may have to be used less to protect them, people lose income
- relocation may be needed
- some erosion and flooding will always occur, not everything can be protected against
- future trends such as sea level rise is uncertain and future plans may need to change
Case study sustainable management
The Maldives
