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

Daniela Kempa (), Leena Karrasch, Torsten Schlurmann, Martin Prominski, Oliver Lojek, Evke Schulte-Güstenberg, Jan Visscher, Oliver Zielinski and Nils Goseberg
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Daniela Kempa: Institute of Environmental Planning, Leibniz University Hannover, Herrenhäuser Str. 2, 30419 Hannover, Germany
Leena Karrasch: Department of Ecological Economics, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Ammerländer Heerstraße 114-118, 26129 Oldenburg, Germany
Torsten Schlurmann: Leibniz Research Center TRUST—Transdisciplinary Rural and Urban Spatial Transformation, Herrenhäuser Str. 2, 30419 Hannover, Germany
Martin Prominski: Leibniz Research Center TRUST—Transdisciplinary Rural and Urban Spatial Transformation, Herrenhäuser Str. 2, 30419 Hannover, Germany
Oliver Lojek: Leichtweiß-Institute for Hydraulic Engineering and Water Resources, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Beethovenstr. 51a, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany
Evke Schulte-Güstenberg: Department of Ecological Economics, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Ammerländer Heerstraße 114-118, 26129 Oldenburg, Germany
Jan Visscher: Ludwig-Franzius Institute of Hydraulic, Estuarine and Coastal Engineering, Leibniz University Hannover, Nienburger Str. 4, 30167 Hannover, Germany
Oliver Zielinski: Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde (IOW), Seestrasse 15, 18119 Rostock, Germany
Nils Goseberg: Coastal Research Center, Joint Central Institution of the Leibniz University Hannover and the Technische Universität Braunschweig, Merkurstraße 11, 30419 Hannover, Germany

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 5, 1-20

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.

Keywords: coastal transformation; ecosystem services; transdisciplinarity; nature-based solutions; southern North Sea; Gute Küste Niedersachsen (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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