Coastal erosion accelerated by climate change is a challenge that confronts many cities, towns and villages located on the seafront. Below are two examples of how towns are meeting this problem head-on, through using nature-based solutions and allowing the beach space to breathe.
Lacanau, South-Western France:
France 24 News highlights incredible work being done by the community, including by a local surf company to cope with rapid dune erosion, more frequent and stronger storms, and sea-level rise.
Lacanau is a coastal town that was developed in 1906, when the beach stretched much further away than it does today. With danger of flooding and displacement of people, they’ve decided to allow nature to take over once more. The community and local authority are planting vegetation, moving buildings back, and restoring dunes.
Find out more at the following link: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1407889086904489
Ventura, California, United States:
Surfer Today Magazine highlights the Surfers Point Managed Retreat Project in Ventura, California. This is the result of a three-decade long project to restore this beautiful coastline back to it’s natural state.
Ventura’s coastline was a hazard zone in the 1990s, when due to coastal erosion, the waves damaged utilities and left debris. The project began in 2013, and sought to move infrastructure away from the beach, and allow the coast space to breathe. Since then, the project has been restoring the dunes, engaging the community to install local art projects, plant native vegetation, and bury cobble berm, using natural defences to build erosion resilience.
Find out more at the following link: https://www.surfertoday.com/environment/surfers-point-managed-retreat-project
