Coastal management strategies: The management of coastal environments depends on human understanding of these areas and the environmental processes happening. With increasing pressures from population growth, industrial activities, and climate change, various strategies have been employed to protect coastlines from erosion and flooding.

• Do Nothing: Let the area flood or the cliff erode naturally.
• Maintain Existing Levels of Defence: Keep up with current protection measures.
• Improve the Level of Defence: Increase protective measures.
• Managed Retreat: Protect some areas but let others erode.

Fun Fact: Choosing which areas to defend is often a tricky business. For example, the gas terminal at Bacton in Norfolk, UK, which is a major energy development, is shielded by gabions and concrete blocks. But the cliffs (and homes) further down at Happisburgh were abandoned to coastal erosion. Seems unfair, right?

• Cliff-Base Schemes: Aim to absorb wave energy and protect the cliff base from erosion. These include:

  • Sea Walls
  • Gabions (rocks held in wire cages)
  • Rock Armour
  • Offshore Breakwaters
  • Revetments

• Cliff-Face Measures: Help to secure the cliff's face from erosion. These include:

  • Cliff Drainage
  • Regrading (making the cliff less steep)
  • Vegetation Schemes (to hold soil together and reduce overland runoff)

Think of these like a suit of armor protecting a knight (cliff) from an enemy (the sea).