More and more solutions for securing the coasts against rising seas and storm surges use both nature as inspiration and buffer, as it is often cheaper and can also provide a wide range of bonus benefits, such as more tourism, better local recreational opportunities and strengthening of biodiversity
Designing nature based solutions
Text and drawing by Frits Ahlefeldt, DrawnJournalism.com
Nature-based climate protection is a tool that can do many things, even contribute to storing CO2 in wetlands, but also provide nature experiences and make the coasts much more accessible
A large number of different techniques and types of natural restoration as climate protection are being tested and developed all over the world, not least now it seems sea level rise is both greater and coming earlier than previously estimated. Under a common umbrella, the solutions are often called NbS (Nature-based solutions)
Among the nature-based methods to face sea level rise are
Establishment of buffer zones such as salt meadows, grasslands, meadows, coastal forests and dune areas
Establishment of rock reefs, mangrove plantations and other vegetation on the sea side, which reduce erosion and wave force towards land, and at the same time can keep sand and stones from being carried away by currents along the coast (Sediment transport)
Lagoons and barrier islands, as a double wall against storm surges
Strengthening of plants, fences and trees in outer coastal zones, which can help reduce and control sand runoff from dunes
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Keywords: Rising seas, sea level rise, climate change, global warming, climate crises, drawnjournalism, visual journalism, illustration, drawing, news, tegnet journalistik, drawn journalism havstigning havstigning2023conf01
Drawn Journalism by Frits Ahlefeldt 