The Times Australia
Business and Money
The Times Real Estate

.

Forget massive seawalls, coastal wetlands offer the best storm protection money can buy

  • Written by Robert Costanza, Professor and VC's Chair, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University

Coastal communities around the world are facing increasing threats from tropical cyclones. Climate change is causing rising sea levels and bigger, more frequent storms.

Many coastal communities are pondering what to do. Should they build massive seawalls in a bid to protect existing infrastructure? Do they give up on their current coastal locations and retreat inland? Or is there another way?

In the US, the US Army Corps of Engineers has proposed building a 20-foot high giant seawall[1] to protect Miami, the third most populous metropolis on the US east coast. The US$6 billion proposal is tentative and at least five years off, but sure to be among many proposals in the coming years to protect coastal communities from storms.

Read more: A 20-foot sea wall won’t save Miami – how living structures can help protect the coast and keep the paradise vibe[2]

But seawalls are expensive to build, require constant maintenance and provide limited protection.

Consider China, which already has a huge number of seawalls built for storm protection. A 2019 study[3] analysed the impact of 127 storms on China between 1989 and 2016.

Coastal wetlands were far more cost effective in preventing storm damages. They also provided many other ecosystem services that seawalls do not.

Waves caused by Typhoon Hato in August 2017 crash over a sea wall in Hong Kong. Waves caused by Typhoon Hato in August 2017 crash over a sea wall in Hong Kong. Alex Hofford/EPA

How wetlands reduce storm effects

Coastal wetlands reduce the damaging effects of tropical cyclones on coastal communities by absorbing storm energy in ways that neither solid land nor open water can.

The mechanisms involved[4] include decreasing the area of open water (fetch) for wind to form waves, increasing drag on water motion and hence the amplitude of a storm surge, reducing direct wind effects on the water surface, and directly absorbing wave energy.

Wetland vegetation contributes by decreasing surges and waves and maintaining shallow water depths that have the same effect. Wetlands also reduce flood damages by absorbing flood waters caused by rain and moderating their effects on built-up areas.

Forget massive seawalls, coastal wetlands offer the best storm protection money can buy Coastal wetlands can absorb storm energy in ways neither solid land nor open water can. Shutterstock

In 2008 I and colleagues estimated coastal wetlands in the US provided storm protection services worth US$23 billion a year.

Our new study[5] estimates the global value of coastal wetlands to storm protection services is US$450 billion a year (calculated at 2015 value) with 4,600 lives saved annually.

To make this calculation, we used the records of more than 1,000 tropical cyclones since 1902 that caused property damage and/or human casualties in 71 countries. Our study took advantage of improved storm tracking, better global land-use mapping and damage-assessment databases, along with improved computational capabilities to model the relationships between coastal wetlands and avoided damages and deaths from tropical cyclones.

The 40 million hectares of coastal wetlands in storm-prone areas provided an average of US$11,000 per hectare a year in avoided storm damages.

Read more: Rising seas allow coastal wetlands to store more carbon[6]

Pacific nations benefit most

The degree to which coastal wetlands provide storm protection varies between countries (and within countries). Key factors are storm probability, amount of built infrastructure in storm-prone areas, if wetlands are in storm-prone areas, and coastal conditions.

The top five countries in terms of annual avoided damages (all in 2015 US dollar values) are the United States (US$200 billion), China (US$157 billion), the Philippines (US$47 billion), Japan (US$24 billion) and Mexico (US$15 billion).

In terms of lives saved annually, the top five are: China (1,309); the Philippines (976); the United States (469)l India (414); and Bangladesh (360).

Floodwaters inundate Manila suburbs in November 2020 following Typhoon Vamco. Floodwaters inundate Manila suburbs in November 2020 following Typhoon Vamco. Ace Morandante/Malacanang Presidential Photographers Division/AP

Other ecosystem services

Coastal wetlands also provide other valuable ecosystem services. They provide nursery habitat for many commercially important marine species, recreational opportunities, carbon sequestration, management of sediment and nutrient run-off, and many other valuable services.

In 2014[7] I and colleagues estimated the value of other ecosystem services provided by wetlands (over and above storm protection) at about $US 135,000 a hectare a year.

But land-use changes, including the loss of coastal wetlands, has been eroding both services. Since 1900 the world has lost up to 70%[8] of its wetlands (Davidson, 2014).

Preserving and restoring coastal wetlands is a very cost-effective strategy for society, and can significantly increase well-being[9] for humans and the rest of nature.

With the frequency and intensity of tropical cyclones and other extreme weather events projected to further increase, the value of coastal wetlands will increase in the future. This justifies investing much more in their conservation and restoration.

References

  1. ^ giant seawall (www.nytimes.com)
  2. ^ A 20-foot sea wall won’t save Miami – how living structures can help protect the coast and keep the paradise vibe (theconversation.com)
  3. ^ 2019 study (www.robertcostanza.com)
  4. ^ mechanisms involved (www.robertcostanza.com)
  5. ^ Our new study (www.sciencedirect.com)
  6. ^ Rising seas allow coastal wetlands to store more carbon (theconversation.com)
  7. ^ 2014 (www.sciencedirect.com)
  8. ^ lost up to 70% (www.publish.csiro.au)
  9. ^ increase well-being (www.idakub.com)

Authors: Robert Costanza, Professor and VC's Chair, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University

Read more https://theconversation.com/forget-massive-seawalls-coastal-wetlands-offer-the-best-storm-protection-money-can-buy-165872

SME Business News

Cross-Continental Collaboration: Nutifood and Viplus Dairy to Create Australian- Standard Premium Dairy Brand

Vietnam’s Nutifood has officially entered a strategic partnership with ViPlus Dairy, a heritage-rich dairy manufacturer with over 130 years of experience in Gippsland, Australia, to establish a...

In the Digital Age, Online Promotion Isn't Just an Option for Small Businesses – It's a Necessity

The shift to an online-first consumer landscape means small businesses must embrace digital promotion to not only survive but thrive in 2025. From expanding reach to fostering customer loyalty...

Integrated vs. Outsourced Transport Freight Solutions: Which Works Best?

(Source) Transporting goods from one place to another in a smooth and efficient way is essential for all businesses around the world. Regardless of the size, businesses rely on transport freig...

Launchd Acquires ICMI in Bold Play to Redefine the Business of Speakers and Influence

Australia’s leading speaker bureau acquired by next-gen talent and technology Company, modernising the brand, corporate and event industry April 2025 - Launchd, the business underpinned by a...

The Times Features

An Introduction to Complete Hip Replacement Surgery

Hip replacement or total hip arthroplasty is a relatively common medical procedure to regain mobility and bring an end to incessant pain in victims of extreme pain in the hip joi...

2 in 3 Melbourne Families Are Downsizing—But Not for the Reason You Think, Says Big Stuff Movers

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA — [16-05-25] — In a city known for its vibrant culture and sprawling suburbs, a quiet revolution is underway. According to recent internal data from Big Stuf...

Runway With a Hug: Gary Bigeni’s Colourful Comeback

By Cesar Ocampo Photographer | AFW 2025 Some designers you photograph once, admire from afar, and move on. But others — like Gary Bigeni — pull you in and never let go. Not becaus...

Tassie’s best pie enters NSW with the launch National Pies’ new fresh range

Fresh from Tasmanian Bakeries in Hobart, National Pies has just delivered Tassie’s best-selling pie to the ready meals aisles of Woolworths stores across NSW.  The delicious roll o...

IORDANES SPYRIDON GOGOS RUNWAY | AFW 2025

Fifth Collection by ISG | Words + Photography by Cesar Ocampo Some runway shows are about the clothes. Others are about the culture they carry. With Iordanes Spyridon Gogos, it’s ...

AJE Resort ‘26 — “IMPRESSION”

Photographed by Cesar Ocampo | AFW 2025 Day 3, Barangaroo Pier Pavilion There are runways, and then there are moments. Aje’s Resort ‘26 collection, IMPRESSION, wasn’t just a fashi...

Business Times

Cross-Continental Collaboration: Nutifood and Viplus Dairy to Cre…

Vietnam’s Nutifood has officially entered a strategic partnership with ViPlus Dairy, a heritage-rich dairy manufacturer wit...

In the Digital Age, Online Promotion Isn't Just an Option for Sma…

The shift to an online-first consumer landscape means small businesses must embrace digital promotion to not only survive b...

Integrated vs. Outsourced Transport Freight Solutions: Which Work…

(Source) Transporting goods from one place to another in a smooth and efficient way is essential for all businesses around...

LayBy Shopping