Author(s): Serena Pollastri; Enrico Tubaldi; Gloria Castro Quintero; Suzana Ilic; Keith Torrance
Linked Author(s):
Keywords: Co-creation; Nature-based solutions; Natural materials; Coastal adaptation
Abstract: Recent studies all agree that coastal communities are or will be the ones to suffer the most from the impact of environmental threats, such as flooding, erosion, and seawater intrusion (IPCC, 2021). Traditional coastal defences will no longer be sustainable from an environmental and cost perspective. An alternative approach is to work with nature in so-called Nature-Based Solutions, which offer many ecosystem-services such as coastal protection, improved biodiversity, social and economic benefits. However, working with nature requires an understanding of site-specific coastal processes, the availability of local materials, an understanding of the benefits and limitations and public acceptance of such solutions. Engaging and empowering local communities in decision-making processes and concrete actions towards adaptable coastal futures is crucial for effective nature-based solutions that respond to hyperlocalised needs and features of place (Brown et al., 2017). This engagement must extend beyond traditional community consultations, which often lead to frustrations, mis-communications, and resistance (Creed et al., 2018). The Coastal Nature Lab is an explorative, interdisciplinary pilot project bringing together researchers in design, coastal processes, and civil and environmental engineering with policy makers, craft practitioners, and communities in intertidal and estuarine coastal areas. It investigates the benefits and viability of using locally sourced natural materials in the design of locally relevant interventions for coastal protection that are co-created with local communities. Specifically, the aim of this pilot project is to develop an initial understanding and mapping of materials, processes, and structures – and how these could be used in combination. The material selected are all already present in the environment in which they are being tested, to reduce the risk of pollution or excessive proliferation arising from their use and degrading. The project focusses on two distinct sites and feeds into the strategies for coastal adaptation that have been proposed for each site:
Year: 2024