51ºÚÁÏ

Hard engineering approaches (groynes, sea walls, rip rap, revetments, offshore breakwaters) are economically costly,
directly alter physical processes and systems, and can affect erosion rates downdrift with consequences for people and
property.
• Soft engineering approaches (beach nourishment, cliff re-grading and drainage, dune stabilisation) attempt to work
with physical systems to protect coasts.

• Policy decisions can lead to conflicts between different players (homeowners, local authorities, environmental pressure
groups, planners) perceived to be winners or losers and affecting local communities.
• Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA) and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) are used as part of the coastal management
decision-making process but these may not represent the feelings of local people.

• Sustainable coastal defences (beach nourishment, beach profiling, dune stabilisation) accommodate, copy or work
alongside natural systems and processes.
• Sustainable management is designed to cope with future threats (increased storm events, rising sea levels) but its
implementation can lead to local conflict.