Design and Insights Gained in a Real-World Laboratory for the Implementation of New Coastal Protection Strategies

authored by: Daniela Kempa, Leena Karrasch, Torsten Schlurmann, Martin Prominski, Oliver Lojek, Evke Schulte-Güstenberg, Jan Hendrik Visscher, Oliver Zielinski, Nils Goseberg
Abstract: Novel strategies in coastal protection are needed to cope with climate change-induced sea level rise. They aim at the sustainable development of coastal areas in light of intensification and land use changes. A promising approach is the design of nature-based solutions (NbS), complementing the safety levels of technical infrastructure. However, NbS lack a widespread and large-scale implementation. To address this deficit, co-design concepts are needed that combine experiences from science and practice. This work presents and discusses the approach of a coast-specific real-world laboratory (RwL) addressing the inclusive design of ecosystem-based coastal protection. Strategies of RwLs are applied for the first time in a coastal context along the North Sea coastline in Germany. We found the concept of RwLs suitable for coastal transdisciplinary research, although adaptions in the spatial reference level or flexibility in location and time of experimentation are necessary. A profound actor analysis is indispensable to specify participatory processes and interaction levels. A criteria-based cooperative selection of RwL sites helps to reveal and solve conflicting interests to achieve trust between science and practice. Addressing site-specific characteristics and practitioners’ needs, our coastal RwL provides a mutual learning space to develop and test NbS to complement technical coastal protection.
Organisation(s): Institute of Environmental Planning
Leibniz Research Centre for Transdisciplinary Rural and Urban Spatial Transformation (TRUST)
Ludwig-Franzius-Institute of Hydraulics, Estuarine and Coastal Engineering
Coastal Research Centre
Institute of Open Space Planning and Design
External Organisation(s): Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg
Technische Universität Braunschweig
Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde (IOW)
Type: Article
Journal: Sustainability
Volume: 15
ISSN: 2071-1050
Publication date: 05.03.2023
Publication status: Published
Peer reviewed: Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas: Computer Science (miscellaneous), Environmental Science (miscellaneous), Geography, Planning and Development, Energy Engineering and Power Technology, Hardware and Architecture, Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law, Building and Construction, Computer Networks and Communications, Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy, SDG 13 - Climate Action, SDG 15 - Life on Land
Electronic version(s): https://doi.org/10.3390/su15054623 (Access: Open)