Modelling the Effectiveness of Vegetative Nature‐Based Solutions for Coastal Flood Risk Mitigation

ABSTRACT Traditional grey solutions, such as seawalls, are increasingly recognised as being unsustainable for long‐term coastal flood risk management, due to high costs and negative environmental impacts. In response, vegetative nature‐based coastal solutions (NBCS), such as saltmarshes, are being i...

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Main Authors: Yengi Emmanuel Daro Justine, Avidesh Seenath
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-06-01
Series:Journal of Flood Risk Management
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1111/jfr3.70046
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author Yengi Emmanuel Daro Justine
Avidesh Seenath
author_facet Yengi Emmanuel Daro Justine
Avidesh Seenath
author_sort Yengi Emmanuel Daro Justine
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Traditional grey solutions, such as seawalls, are increasingly recognised as being unsustainable for long‐term coastal flood risk management, due to high costs and negative environmental impacts. In response, vegetative nature‐based coastal solutions (NBCS), such as saltmarshes, are being increasingly proposed as a more sustainable alternative with wider environmental benefits. However, there is considerable uncertainty on the longevity of such solutions under sea‐level rise. We, therefore, examine the effectiveness of vegetative NBCS for mitigating coastal flood risk through scenario modelling using a verified LISFLOOD‐FP model for Absecon Island in New Jersey, USA. Specifically, we simulate various experimental vegetative NBCS scenarios, each designed to represent a saltmarsh system (young, mid‐age, and old), under alternative sea‐level conditions. Our results show that these solutions have a marginal influence on flood extent, depth, velocity, and timing under current and future projected sea‐level conditions. These findings suggest that reliance on vegetative NBCS may not be sustainable for long‐term coastal flood risk management, particularly under climate change. We discuss the wider implications of these findings and identify future research pathways towards improving and informing more robust coastal flood risk management decisions.
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spelling doaj-art-5980cd13254342519bd901c5545157c22025-08-20T03:28:00ZengWileyJournal of Flood Risk Management1753-318X2025-06-01182n/an/a10.1111/jfr3.70046Modelling the Effectiveness of Vegetative Nature‐Based Solutions for Coastal Flood Risk MitigationYengi Emmanuel Daro Justine0Avidesh Seenath1Environmental Change Institute, School of Geography and the Environment University of Oxford Oxford UKEnvironmental Change Institute, School of Geography and the Environment University of Oxford Oxford UKABSTRACT Traditional grey solutions, such as seawalls, are increasingly recognised as being unsustainable for long‐term coastal flood risk management, due to high costs and negative environmental impacts. In response, vegetative nature‐based coastal solutions (NBCS), such as saltmarshes, are being increasingly proposed as a more sustainable alternative with wider environmental benefits. However, there is considerable uncertainty on the longevity of such solutions under sea‐level rise. We, therefore, examine the effectiveness of vegetative NBCS for mitigating coastal flood risk through scenario modelling using a verified LISFLOOD‐FP model for Absecon Island in New Jersey, USA. Specifically, we simulate various experimental vegetative NBCS scenarios, each designed to represent a saltmarsh system (young, mid‐age, and old), under alternative sea‐level conditions. Our results show that these solutions have a marginal influence on flood extent, depth, velocity, and timing under current and future projected sea‐level conditions. These findings suggest that reliance on vegetative NBCS may not be sustainable for long‐term coastal flood risk management, particularly under climate change. We discuss the wider implications of these findings and identify future research pathways towards improving and informing more robust coastal flood risk management decisions.https://doi.org/10.1111/jfr3.70046coastal floodingflood risk managementnature‐based coastal solutionsvegetation
spellingShingle Yengi Emmanuel Daro Justine
Avidesh Seenath
Modelling the Effectiveness of Vegetative Nature‐Based Solutions for Coastal Flood Risk Mitigation
Journal of Flood Risk Management
coastal flooding
flood risk management
nature‐based coastal solutions
vegetation
title Modelling the Effectiveness of Vegetative Nature‐Based Solutions for Coastal Flood Risk Mitigation
title_full Modelling the Effectiveness of Vegetative Nature‐Based Solutions for Coastal Flood Risk Mitigation
title_fullStr Modelling the Effectiveness of Vegetative Nature‐Based Solutions for Coastal Flood Risk Mitigation
title_full_unstemmed Modelling the Effectiveness of Vegetative Nature‐Based Solutions for Coastal Flood Risk Mitigation
title_short Modelling the Effectiveness of Vegetative Nature‐Based Solutions for Coastal Flood Risk Mitigation
title_sort modelling the effectiveness of vegetative nature based solutions for coastal flood risk mitigation
topic coastal flooding
flood risk management
nature‐based coastal solutions
vegetation
url https://doi.org/10.1111/jfr3.70046
work_keys_str_mv AT yengiemmanueldarojustine modellingtheeffectivenessofvegetativenaturebasedsolutionsforcoastalfloodriskmitigation
AT avideshseenath modellingtheeffectivenessofvegetativenaturebasedsolutionsforcoastalfloodriskmitigation