Building land with a rising sea

Temmerman, S. and Kirwan, M.L. | Science | 2015 | Peer Reviewed | Perspective | http://science.sciencemag.org/content/349/6248/588

Abstract

Building land with a rising sea and a growing coastal population requires strategies that combine conventional engineering with the restoration and maintenance of wetlands and natural delta-building processes. Advances in ecosystem-based engineering may mitigate the risks associated with conventional engineering and rising energy costs. The few existing examples, however, are too recently implemented to fully evaluate their long-term success. More proof-of-concept projects with extensive monitoring are urgently needed in the search for science-based solutions to safeguard delta societies around the world.