By Shannon E. Cunniff with Environmental
Defense Fund (email@example.com)
and coral reefs, dunes and mangroves act as speed bumps and shock absorbers to reduce
the impacts of rising seas and coastal storms. These natural defenses are cost effective
and provide myriad benefits to coastal communities. Natural defenses can complement traditional approaches
to floodplain management, such as building and zoning codes and hardened
engineered solutions, to create multiple lines of defense against storms. Expanding engineering design
literacy for natural defenses will hasten their acceptance as key features for
building coastal community resilience.
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