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Coastal and riverine ecosystems as adaptive flood defenses under a changing climate

Author

Listed:
  • Bregje K. van Wesenbeeck

    (Unit for Marine and Coastal Systems, Deltares
    Delft University of Technology)

  • Wiebe de Boer

    (Unit for Hydraulic Engineering, Deltares)

  • Siddharth Narayan

    (National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS), UCSB)

  • Wouter R. L. van der Star

    (Unit for Subsoil and Groundwater Systems, Deltares)

  • Mindert B. de Vries

    (Unit for Marine and Coastal Systems, Deltares)

Abstract

Adaptation planning for flood risk forms a significant part of global climate change response. Engineering responses to higher water levels can be prohibitively costly. Several recent studies emphasize the potential role of ecosystems in flood protection as adaptive risk reduction measures while also contributing to carbon fixation. Here, we use a conceptual model study to illustrate the built-in adaptive capability of ecosystems to reduce a wide range of wave heights, occurring at different water levels, to a narrower range. Our model shows that wave height of waves running through a forested section is independent of initial height or of water level. Although the underlying phenomenon of non-linear wave attenuation within coastal vegetation is well studied, implications of reducing variability in wave heights for design of ecosystem and levee combinations have not yet been properly outlined. Narrowing the range of wave heights by a vegetation field generates an adaptive levee that is robust to a whole range of external conditions rather than only to a maximum wave height. This feature can substantially reduce costs for retrofitting of levees under changing future wave climates. Thereby, in wave prone areas, inclusion of ecosystems into flood defense schemes constitutes an adaptive and safe alternative to only hard engineered flood risk measures.

Suggested Citation

  • Bregje K. van Wesenbeeck & Wiebe de Boer & Siddharth Narayan & Wouter R. L. van der Star & Mindert B. de Vries, 2017. "Coastal and riverine ecosystems as adaptive flood defenses under a changing climate," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 22(7), pages 1087-1094, October.
  • Handle: RePEc:spr:masfgc:v:22:y:2017:i:7:d:10.1007_s11027-016-9714-z
    DOI: 10.1007/s11027-016-9714-z
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. So-Min Cheong & Brian Silliman & Poh Poh Wong & Bregje van Wesenbeeck & Choong-Ki Kim & Greg Guannel, 2013. "Coastal adaptation with ecological engineering," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 3(9), pages 787-791, September.
    2. Catherine E. Lovelock & Donald R. Cahoon & Daniel A. Friess & Glenn R. Guntenspergen & Ken W. Krauss & Ruth Reef & Kerrylee Rogers & Megan L. Saunders & Frida Sidik & Andrew Swales & Neil Saintilan & , 2015. "The vulnerability of Indo-Pacific mangrove forests to sea-level rise," Nature, Nature, vol. 526(7574), pages 559-563, October.
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    4. Stephane Hallegatte & Colin Green & Robert J. Nicholls & Jan Corfee-Morlot, 2013. "Future flood losses in major coastal cities," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 3(9), pages 802-806, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Marina Hernandez-Mora & Oliver Meseguer-Ruiz & Cyrus Karas & Fabrice Lambert, 2021. "Estimating coastal flood hazard of Tossa de Mar, Spain: a combined model – data interviews approach," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 109(3), pages 2153-2171, December.
    2. Vincent T. M. Zelst & Jasper T. Dijkstra & Bregje K. Wesenbeeck & Dirk Eilander & Edward P. Morris & Hessel C. Winsemius & Philip J. Ward & Mindert B. Vries, 2021. "Cutting the costs of coastal protection by integrating vegetation in flood defences," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-11, December.

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