How ecological engineering can serve in coastal protection |
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Authors: | Bas W Borsje Bregje K van Wesenbeeck Marieke M van Katwijk |
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Institution: | a Water Engineering and Management, University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands b Deltares, Marine and Coastal Systems, Ecosystem Analysis and Assessment, Rotterdamseweg 185, P.O. Box 177, 2600 MH Delft, The Netherlands c Deltares, Hydraulic Engineering, Harbours Coastal and Offshore, Rotterdamseweg 185, P.O. Box 177, 2600 MH Delft, The Netherlands d Ecoconsult, Asterstraat 19, 3135 HA Vlaardingen, The Netherlands e Centre for Estuarine and Marine Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Korringaweg 7, P.O. Box 140, 4400 AC Yerseke, The Netherlands f Department of Environmental Science, Radboud University Nijmegen, P.O. Box 9010, 6500 GL Nijmegen, The Netherlands |
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Abstract: | Traditionally, protection of the coastal area from flooding is approached from an engineering perspective. This approach has often resulted in negative or unforeseen impacts on local ecology and is even known to impact surrounding ecosystems on larger scales. In this paper, the utilization of ecosystem engineering species for achieving civil-engineering objectives or the facilitation of multiple use of limited space in coastal protection is focused upon, either by using ecosystem engineering species that trap sediment and damp waves (oyster beds, mussel beds, willow floodplains and marram grass), or by adjusting hard substrates to enhance ecological functioning. Translating desired coastal protection functionality into designs that make use of the capability of appropriate ecosystem engineering species is, however, hampered by lack of a generic framework to decide which ecosystem engineering species or what type of hard-substrate adaptations may be used where and when. In this paper we review successful implementation of ecosystem engineering species in coastal protection for a sandy shore and propose a framework to select the appropriate measures based on the spatial and temporal scale of coastal protection, resulting in a dynamic interaction between engineering and ecology. Modeling and monitoring the bio-physical interactions is needed, as it allows to upscale successful implementations and predict otherwise unforeseen impacts. |
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Keywords: | Coastal protection Ecosystem engineering species Artificial habitats Ecosystem-based management Dutch coastline Building with Nature |
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