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CrowdScience: How should we protect our coastlines?

Discussion & Talk

How should we protect our coastlines?

26/04/2024 GMT

BBC World Service - CrowdScience, How should we protect our coastlines?

What’s the best way to combat coastal erosion?

What’s the best way to combat coastal erosion and restore crumbling coastlines?

Coastlines around the world are changing, causing serious problems for the many communities living near the sea, as well as vital and fragile coastal ecosystems. 

In the second of a two-part special on coastal erosion, CrowdScience explores the best ways to tackle this problem. Presenter Caroline Steel visits the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico to see the various methods they use to protect their coasts. 

First up: ‘riprap’ – rocks strategically placed to keep the encroaching sea at bay. The problem is, while it protects the area immediately behind the rocks, riprap can exacerbate erosion nearby.  

But there are other, more nature-friendly solutions, including sand dune restoration. Caroline picks up her shovel and helps to re-plant dunes, destroyed in the past by erosion as well as sand extraction for the construction trade. The roots of these plants stabilise the dunes, while building boardwalks prevents further damage from humans.  

Nature also offers the perfect offshore protection against coastal erosion: coral reefs. These are the first line of defence in absorbing the power of the ocean’s waves. Down on the beach, we see for ourselves just how effective they are. The reefs face threats, but restoration plans are afoot. We visit a nursery that grows corals to plant out on the reefs – and find out about corals’ surprising cannibalistic tendencies in the process. 

Featuring: 
Professor Robert Mayer - Director of Vida Marina, Center for Conservation and Ecological Restoration, University of Puerto Rico 
Nada Nigaglioni - Biology student, University of Puerto Rico  
Ernesto Diaz - Caribbean Regional Manager at TetraTech 
Dr Stacey Williams - Executive Director, ISER Caribe 

Presenter: Caroline Steel 
Producer: Hannah Fisher 
Editor: Cathy Edwards 
Production Co-ordinator: Liz Tuohy 
Studio Manager: Emma Harth

(Photo: Coast restoration measures at Ultimo Trolley Beach, Puerto Rico. Credit: BBC)

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