Advantages Of Coastal Conservation

Soft engineering methods of coastal protection refer to the use of natural processes to stabilise the coast and to reduce erosion. Hard engineering methods refer to the construction of concrete physical structures to protect the coast from erosion caused by waves. Soft engineering methods include Beach Nourishment and Planting of Vegetation and stabilising of Dunes. Hard engineering methods include seawalls, gabions and groynes.

Planting of vegetation has helped to stabilise sand dunes and bring about long-term benefits in terms of coastal protection. Young grass is planted through matting and the overtime, the dunes become more stable. Stabilising dunes helps to minimise erosion by destructive ocean storms. For example. In Omaha Beach in New Zealand, marram grass is used for stabilisation. Planting of vegetation could also refer to planting mangroves which have strong roots to absorb wave energy and help to anchor the soil to the ground to reduce coastal erosion. Vegetation is more effective than hard engineering methods because it does not just reflect the wave energy but absorbs it, instead which is more effective. This is because areas which are not protected, are not destroyed or eroded away. Vegetation is also aesthetically appealing unlike the unsightly gabions and other hard-engineering measures. Mangroves also serve as a natural protection against floods that tend to destroy sea walls which are destroyed by waves of high energies. This can be seen in the example of