Belgium’s Engineered Dunes Provide Natural Shield Against Rising Seas
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📰 The quick summary: Belgium is protecting its coastline from rising sea levels and storm surges with innovative dune-by-dike systems that create a natural double buffer while promoting biodiversity.
📈 One key stat: Belgium’s engineered dunes have grown from nearly flat beach to 2.5 meters tall since 2021, providing crucial coastal defense against storms and rising seas.
💬 One key quote: “Once you have it, you only need to combine it with coastline preservation and you’re safe for sea level rise until eternity.”
1️⃣ The big picture: Belgium is testing a nature-based approach to protect its vulnerable coastline from intensifying storms and rising sea levels. The country has established four pilot sites of dune-by-dike systems, where engineered sand dunes work alongside existing dikes to create a double buffer against the sea. These systems use vegetation like marram grass to trap and accumulate sand naturally, mimicking natural dune formation. The approach follows Belgium’s coastal defense philosophy of ‘soft where possible, hard where necessary,’ prioritizing natural solutions while acknowledging that rigid infrastructure is sometimes needed.
2️⃣ Why is this good news: These dune systems effectively absorbed the impact of recent storms, with minimal erosion reported even in vulnerable areas. Beyond coastal protection, the dunes have become havens for biodiversity, attracting rare plant species and various insects to the Belgian coast. The systems are designed to grow naturally with rising sea levels, providing sustainable long-term protection. Similar nature-based coastal protection approaches are gaining momentum across Europe, offering promising solutions for coastal communities facing climate threats. Local municipalities have already shown interest in implementing their own dune-inspired projects.
3️⃣ What’s next: Researchers continue gathering data on the effectiveness of these dune systems to inform future coastal protection decisions. The Flemish government plans to maintain the dunes through regular beach nourishment, dredging sand from offshore banks approximately every five years. Experts must balance the ecological impacts of sand dredging while communicating the benefits of these systems to coastal residents who may lose sea views.
Read the full story here: Mongabay – As storms surge & the sea rises, Belgium builds dunes for protection
