The role of landslides on coastal Environment changes

The coastal landscape has been shaped by natural erosion throughout history, but evidence is building that climate change is starting to accelerate the process. Rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and human interventions like coastal protection and river engineering, are likely to pose added challenges for geoconservation. Such factors substantially endanger the coastal ecology and vulnerable Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) which hold vital designations in UK conservation policy.

With each event, these sites face heightened risks of damage and loss, requiring a systematic approach to geoconservation. Coastal risk management has gained prominence, particularly with Defra's introduction of a new approach in England, emphasising coastal stability alongside erosion. This project aligns with the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 in its goal to understand the interplay of climate change, human activity, natural hazards and their collective impacts on SSSIs.

The proposed research aims to develop dynamic risk assessment strategies to mitigate hazards, facilitate sustainable coastal management practices, revisions in ecological-economic zoning and to regularly monitor landslide-prone areas and ongoing deformations for accurate assessment of significant changes. Thus it aims to advance coastal risk policy by addressing gaps in accounting for climate change effects, geoconservation plans, and sustainable coastal stewardship per current UK guidelines.

Objective: Investigate the effects of coastal landslides and engineering impacts from ongoing construction on SSSIs. Regularly monitor landslide-prone and deforming areas for continuous assessment of impactful changes on SSSIs. Revise risk assessments to enable adaptation and mitigation of coastal ecosystem hazards.

Methodology:

Integrate satellite remote sensing and machine learning for semi-automated identification and monitoring of landslide-prone areas, refining to higher risk zones. Apply geophysical techniques to characterise landslide preconditioning and run-out, informing restoration planning. Regularly monitor deformations for early identification of potential landslides to adapt mitigation approaches. Climatological data will indicate climate trends associated with landslide activity.

Key mitigation strategies for effective geoconservation include managed coastal retreat (Prosser 2011), nature-based solutions, inland relocation of activities to reduce vulnerability, adopting "green infrastructure" and raising public awareness through education. This comprehensive approach not only enhances monitoring accuracy but also informs decision-making, ensuring the sustainable management of coastal regions.

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