Combining natural salt marsh habitats with conventional dikes may provide a more sustainable and cost-effective alternative for fully engineered flood protection. Researchers of the University of Groningen (UG) and the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ) studied how salt marsh nature management can be optimized for coastal defense purposes. They found that grazing by both cattle and small herbivores such as geese and hare and artificial mowing can reduce salt marsh erosion, therefore contributing to nature-based coastal defense.
People around the world live in coastal areas that are prone to flooding. Dikes provide traditional flood protection for coastal defense purposes. In addition, salt marshes bordering these traditional barriers may strongly contribute to coastal protection by reducing wave forces on dikes.
Cost-effective alternative
Hence, combining natural salt marsh habitats with conventional dikes may provide a more sustainable and cost-effective alternative for fully engineered flood protection. However, to safeguard this nature-based coastal defense, long-term salt marsh width and stability needs to be assured.
Read more at University of Groningen
Image: Cow grazing enhanced this erosion resistance by compacting the soil by trampling. (Credit: University of Groningen)