Coastline management strategies
Several strategies can be used to tackle erosion and the landward advance of the sea. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. In this lesson we will look at them in detail to gain better understanding of the challenges surrounding erosion risk management. This can then help us take appropriate measures to ensure the reasonable and sustainable management of our coastal environment. To discover what strategies have been implemented on different parts of the European coast, take a look at our interactive map.
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Introduction
Coastlines are attractive spaces subject to a high population pressure. In UK, 36% of the people lived within 5 km from the sea and 94% within 50 km (in 2006).
They are varied territories with very different environments (beaches, cliffs, dunes, estuaries, etc.) and which are given over to a variety of uses (commercial and industrial activities; commercial and fishing ports, marinas; water sports, etc.). Also, thanks to their diversity, coastlines attract high numbers of tourists. For example, the town of Biarritz, in France, grows from 23 000 to 110 000 inhabitants during the summer season.
Nowadays, with the increasing frequency of marine weather phenomena such as storms and the population growth in coastal areas, communities are rethinking the way in which coastlines are developed.
Consequently, several strategies have been put in place in order to protect stakes on the European coast. There are four types of strategies: engineering solutions, the adaptation or support of natural processes, relocation or strategic retreat and passive monitoring.
Depending on the stakes to be protected (homes, infrastructure, natural habitats, etc.) different strategies will be favoured.
Engineering strategy
Traditionally, coastal erosion is tackled by "hard" defensive structures designed to withstand the onslaught of the sea (groynes, walls, breakwaters, etc.). These techniques can often prevent local erosion but contribute to erosion in an area near the protected zone.
In order to resolve these problems, other "soft" protection systems are being developed and offer the advantage of blending better into the natural landscape and having less of an impact on biodiversity.
1. Hard engineering methods (seawalls, groynes, riprap, etc.)
These techniques are based on two different principles:
- structures perpendicular to the coast, such as groynes, help notably to minimise the transport of sand by longshore currents (longshore drift). The beaches are replenished with sand and wave energy is dissipated.