The estuary and surrounding dunes have eroded significantly the last decades, leading to a changed biodiversity and steepening off the coastal profile. Climate change is expected to increase coastal erosion, threatening flooding of the surrounding land and cities. Natural biodiversity is impacted by present coastal protection, which includes more than 100 year old groins. Ensuring sustainable socio-economic development (e.g. eco-tourism and a harbor), restoring nature on the long-term by enhancing knowledge and creating maintenance plans for upscaling sand nourishments, while improving flood protection (extending/restoring groins).
There is a lack of knowledge on the natural dynamics of the coastal morphology and biology and their relation with sand nourishments. This knowledge gap inhibits the application of NbS in the coastal area. This pilot concerns improving scientific basis on the coastal dynamics regarding morphology and biology. Different coastal protection management options based on the BwN principle will be assessed, how these could be optimized regarding safety, and their impact on morphology and biology.
