Here are the advantages of managed retreat:
Managed retreat offers significant benefits, primarily focusing on cost savings compared to traditional sea defences and the creation of valuable natural ecosystems that provide both environmental and defensive advantages.
One of the primary benefits of opting for managed retreat as a coastal management strategy is its cost-effectiveness.
Financial Savings
- Cheaper Alternative: Compared to constructing and maintaining hard engineering solutions like sea walls or groynes, managed retreat is a significantly cheaper option. Instead of investing large sums in potentially temporary defences against rising sea levels and erosion, resources are used to manage the relocation and adaptation of infrastructure and communities further inland. This is a cheap option compared to paying for sea defences.
Environmental and Defensive Benefits
Beyond cost savings, managed retreat facilitates the natural development of coastal habitats, offering long-term ecological and protective advantages.
- Creation of Salt Marshes: By allowing the sea to inundate low-lying land, managed retreat intentionally creates new salt marsh areas. This process can provide valuable habitats for wildlife and function as a natural defence against erosion and flooding.
- Biodiverse Ecosystems: These newly formed salt marshes are not just empty spaces; they become diverse ecosystems supporting many species. They act as nurseries for fish, feeding grounds for birds, and host a variety of unique plant life adapted to the brackish environment.
- Natural Protection: The vegetation and sediment structure of salt marshes naturally dissipate wave energy, reducing the impact on the coastline behind them. They also trap sediment, helping to build elevation and keep pace with sea-level rise to some extent, providing a resilient barrier against flooding.
In summary, managed retreat offers a strategic approach to coastal change that is not only more affordable than traditional engineering but also yields significant ecological benefits, creating valuable habitats and providing a natural, resilient form of coastal defence.
