Coastal erosion

Abstract

Most of the World's shorelines are retreating. An erosion crisis is at hand because development in the endangered zone is increasing, and halting shoreline erosion can be very costly in economic and environmental terms. The shoreline erosion problem is "solved" by (1) hard shoreline stabilization, for example, seawalls; (2) soft shoreline stabilization, for example, beach replenishment; and (3) building relocation. Because of concern for preservation of recreational beaches, the use of hard stabilization, that is, seawalls, is sometimes being restricted.