Nature-based Solutions, mangrove restoration and global coastal flood risk reductions

Abstract

<p>In order to mitigate the expected increase in coastal flood risk it is critical to better understand how adaptation measures can reduce that risk, including Nature-based Solutions. We present the first global scale assessment of the (future) flood risk reduction and the benefits mangrove restoration. Unlike previous studies on Nature-based Solutions, we provide a quantitative assessment of mangrove restoration and nature contributions to people in terms of monetary flood risk reduction, people exposed to flooding, and poverty indicators. We find that mangrove restoration is an effective measure to contribute to future flood risk reduction and estimate that a large share of future flood risk may be reduced by implementing mangrove restoration. Our estimates indicate that nature-based solutions like mangrove restoration constitute promising complementary measures to other adaptation measures (e.g. structural measures). We further indicate that the benefits of mangrove restoration are unevenly distributed across the population in terms of poverty, and show that only looking into property damages and people exposed is not enough to understand the range of impacts of adaptation on population distributions. Even though this study can only be used as a first proxy analysis or indicative, it provides valuable insight into the feasibility of mangrove restoration at the global scale, and supports the need for sustainable adaptation and global assessmenst of Nature-based Solutions. Furthermore, implementing adaptation measures, such as mangrove restoration, in developing countries will contribute to the resilience of people in poverty, poverty alleviation and help tackle poverty traps.</p>