1.2.17

Coastal Defences: Managed Retreat

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Managed Retreat

Managed retreat involves accepting defeat. Instead of trying to stop the sea advancing, coastal defences are removed, and land is flooded. This land will likely become mangrove swamps or marshland. However, this will protect the land behind it.

Illustrative background for What are the advantages of managed retreat?Illustrative background for What are the advantages of managed retreat? ?? "content

What are the advantages of managed retreat?

  • Managed retreat protects the land behind the mangroves or swamps.
  • Managed retreat costs no money & no maintenance is needed.
  • Swamps and mangroves are often biodiverse.
Illustrative background for What are the disadvantages of managed retreat?Illustrative background for What are the disadvantages of managed retreat? ?? "content

What are the disadvantages of managed retreat?

  • Land is lost to the sea.
  • Some people may lose their land or livelihoods if farmland is allowed to be flooded.
  • Someone's house could be lost if they lived in the area that would become marshland.

Jump to other topics

1Physical Geography

1.1River Environments

1.2Coastal Environments

1.3Hazardous Environments - Tropical Cyclones

1.4Hazardous Environments - Earthquakes & Volcanoes

2Human Geography

3Global Issues

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