Published in the journal *Nature Sustainability*, the study is one of the most detailed efforts to date to assess the impacts of nature-based solutions and traditional built infrastructure on tidal flooding, property damage, and economic activity. The researchers mapped impacts by linking a dynamic flood model with new flood damage and economic models across several South Florida counties exposed to coastal hazards, including from hurricanes.
The researchers applied the new approach to evaluate scenarios to address a sea-level rise projection of about 2 feet by midcentury. They found that nature-based solutions such as mangrove restoration and artificial reefs in some cases can be as effective as traditional "hard" infrastructure such as seawalls at protecting against tidal flooding.
By also providing spatially resolved economic data, the model enables decision makers to efficiently select the most economically efficient locations for particular adaptation measures.
"Given finite adaptation resources and budgets, our results suggest it's best to focus adaptation investments in areas with high exposure to tidal flooding and where property value would be particularly vulnerable due to sea-level rise," said Dr. Mach. "While nature-based solutions generally show competitive effectiveness to built infrastructure, there are contexts where combinations of both approaches will provide the greatest economic benefit."
The research was funded by the U.S. Department of the Interior's Southeast Climate Adaptation Science Center.
