Managed Retreat

Managed retreat or 'managed realignment' involves careful long-term coastal planning, creation or enhancement of intertidal habitat, and delineating a line to which development can occur. Incentives for relocation just mean designating an area that should not be redeveloped due to flood risk and providing ways for people to relocate.

This approach is relatively new but is gaining traction among coastal policymakers and managers in the face of increased coastal hazard risks. There is a growing recognition that attempting to "hold the line" in many places is a losing battle.

In many cases of managed retreat, human development is "moved" out of harm's way and natural areas are restored to enhance their ecosystem services. Typically, flood defenses are set back from the shoreline, and flooding is allowed in the previously defended area. Usually, natural coastal habitat is preserved seaward of the man-made defense and it provides extra protection or a buffer from flooding.

Glossary Source.

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