Nature-based adaptation in human dominated coastal ecosystems

Ecosystems along river-to-sea continuums face urgent challenges that demand swift restoration interventions, often exceeding the data availability, collection and testing capacity. This makes expert- and consensus-based approaches vital for guiding decisions, particularly in data-scarce coastal regi...

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Autores: Horneman, Fabienne, Stocco, Alice|||0000-0002-0722-7975, Comandini, Paolo, Barausse, Alberto|||0000-0002-2849-7624, Caiola, Nuno, Sánchez-Arcilla Rosanas, Agustín, Gracia García, Vicente|||0000-0002-4628-426X, Marijnissen, Richard|||0000-0002-9840-450X, Torresan, Silvia
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2026
País:España
Institución:Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)
Repositorio:UPCommons. Portal del coneixement obert de la UPC
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:upcommons.upc.edu:2117/456304
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/2117/456304
https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2026.114629
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Coastal restoration
Nature-based techniques
Coastal ecosystems
River-to-sea continuums
Expert-based
Climate acceleration
Adaptive management
Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Enginyeria civil::Enginyeria hidràulica, marítima i sanitària
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dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Nature-based adaptation in human dominated coastal ecosystems
title Nature-based adaptation in human dominated coastal ecosystems
spellingShingle Nature-based adaptation in human dominated coastal ecosystems
Horneman, Fabienne
Coastal restoration
Nature-based techniques
Coastal ecosystems
River-to-sea continuums
Expert-based
Climate acceleration
Adaptive management
Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Enginyeria civil::Enginyeria hidràulica, marítima i sanitària
title_short Nature-based adaptation in human dominated coastal ecosystems
title_full Nature-based adaptation in human dominated coastal ecosystems
title_fullStr Nature-based adaptation in human dominated coastal ecosystems
title_full_unstemmed Nature-based adaptation in human dominated coastal ecosystems
title_sort Nature-based adaptation in human dominated coastal ecosystems
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Horneman, Fabienne
Stocco, Alice|||0000-0002-0722-7975
Comandini, Paolo
Barausse, Alberto|||0000-0002-2849-7624
Caiola, Nuno
Sánchez-Arcilla Rosanas, Agustín
Gracia García, Vicente|||0000-0002-4628-426X
Marijnissen, Richard|||0000-0002-9840-450X
Torresan, Silvia
author Horneman, Fabienne
author_facet Horneman, Fabienne
Stocco, Alice|||0000-0002-0722-7975
Comandini, Paolo
Barausse, Alberto|||0000-0002-2849-7624
Caiola, Nuno
Sánchez-Arcilla Rosanas, Agustín
Gracia García, Vicente|||0000-0002-4628-426X
Marijnissen, Richard|||0000-0002-9840-450X
Torresan, Silvia
author_role author
author2 Stocco, Alice|||0000-0002-0722-7975
Comandini, Paolo
Barausse, Alberto|||0000-0002-2849-7624
Caiola, Nuno
Sánchez-Arcilla Rosanas, Agustín
Gracia García, Vicente|||0000-0002-4628-426X
Marijnissen, Richard|||0000-0002-9840-450X
Torresan, Silvia
author2_role author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Coastal restoration
Nature-based techniques
Coastal ecosystems
River-to-sea continuums
Expert-based
Climate acceleration
Adaptive management
Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Enginyeria civil::Enginyeria hidràulica, marítima i sanitària
topic Coastal restoration
Nature-based techniques
Coastal ecosystems
River-to-sea continuums
Expert-based
Climate acceleration
Adaptive management
Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Enginyeria civil::Enginyeria hidràulica, marítima i sanitària
description Ecosystems along river-to-sea continuums face urgent challenges that demand swift restoration interventions, often exceeding the data availability, collection and testing capacity. This makes expert- and consensus-based approaches vital for guiding decisions, particularly in data-scarce coastal regions. With the aim to provide practical guidance for assessing the applicability of different restoration techniques, this study involved a group of 23 experts from various European and Mediterranean regions to evaluate 49 restoration techniques tested recently in nine sites, representing diverse coastal ecosystems. Through a Delphi-based expert elicitation, a series of gray, hybrid, and green restoration techniques was assessed in terms of their structural and functional performance. Additionally, the assessment of the pressures affecting the regions allowed exploring the restoration techniques' resilience to both natural and anthropogenic pressures and impacts. Results from the data collected so far suggest that, while green restoration techniques are environmentally friendly and significantly support natural processes, their limited scale of influence makes them vulnerable when pressures are strong or widespread on the ecosystem. This often leads to opting for hybrid or engineering-based solutions for restoration, as they provide a more robust structure and longevity albeit with reduced capacity to foster natural processes. This result underscores a critical dilemma: while green and/or integrated solutions can help mitigate human-induced impacts and digital tools may support decision-making, restoration efforts alone may sometimes be insufficient if the underlying anthropogenic pressures on human-dominated coastal ecosystems remain unaddressed. Subsequently, the identified techniques and their performance evaluated under current and future conditions have been compiled into an open-source, interactive digital tool, designed to assist decision-makers and practitioners in selecting the most suitable restoration strategies by leveraging the knowledge acquired through ongoing experiences in coastal restoration. This digital platform not only facilitates access to information but also enables the integration of new data on emerging techniques, making it a dynamic and evolving resource for coastal restoration management.
publishDate 2026
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2026
2026-02-01
2026
2026-02-26
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv journal article
http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501
VoR
http://purl.org/coar/version/c_970fb48d4fbd8a85
dc.type.openaire.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
format article
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv https://hdl.handle.net/2117/456304
https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2026.114629
url https://hdl.handle.net/2117/456304
https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2026.114629
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv Inglés
eng
language_invalid_str_mv Inglés
language eng
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv European Commission http://doi.org/10.13039/100010661 Horizon 2020 Framework Programme 101037097 Large scale RESToration of COASTal ecosystems through rivers to sea connectivity
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv open access
http://purl.org/coar/access_right/c_abf2
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
dc.rights.openaire.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
rights_invalid_str_mv open access
http://purl.org/coar/access_right/c_abf2
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
dc.format.none.fl_str_mv application/pdf
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv reponame:UPCommons. Portal del coneixement obert de la UPC
instname:Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)
instname_str Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)
reponame_str UPCommons. Portal del coneixement obert de la UPC
collection UPCommons. Portal del coneixement obert de la UPC
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spelling Nature-based adaptation in human dominated coastal ecosystemsHorneman, FabienneStocco, Alice|||0000-0002-0722-7975Comandini, PaoloBarausse, Alberto|||0000-0002-2849-7624Caiola, NunoSánchez-Arcilla Rosanas, AgustínGracia García, Vicente|||0000-0002-4628-426XMarijnissen, Richard|||0000-0002-9840-450XTorresan, SilviaCoastal restorationNature-based techniquesCoastal ecosystemsRiver-to-sea continuumsExpert-basedClimate accelerationAdaptive managementÀrees temàtiques de la UPC::Enginyeria civil::Enginyeria hidràulica, marítima i sanitàriaEcosystems along river-to-sea continuums face urgent challenges that demand swift restoration interventions, often exceeding the data availability, collection and testing capacity. This makes expert- and consensus-based approaches vital for guiding decisions, particularly in data-scarce coastal regions. With the aim to provide practical guidance for assessing the applicability of different restoration techniques, this study involved a group of 23 experts from various European and Mediterranean regions to evaluate 49 restoration techniques tested recently in nine sites, representing diverse coastal ecosystems. Through a Delphi-based expert elicitation, a series of gray, hybrid, and green restoration techniques was assessed in terms of their structural and functional performance. Additionally, the assessment of the pressures affecting the regions allowed exploring the restoration techniques' resilience to both natural and anthropogenic pressures and impacts. Results from the data collected so far suggest that, while green restoration techniques are environmentally friendly and significantly support natural processes, their limited scale of influence makes them vulnerable when pressures are strong or widespread on the ecosystem. This often leads to opting for hybrid or engineering-based solutions for restoration, as they provide a more robust structure and longevity albeit with reduced capacity to foster natural processes. This result underscores a critical dilemma: while green and/or integrated solutions can help mitigate human-induced impacts and digital tools may support decision-making, restoration efforts alone may sometimes be insufficient if the underlying anthropogenic pressures on human-dominated coastal ecosystems remain unaddressed. Subsequently, the identified techniques and their performance evaluated under current and future conditions have been compiled into an open-source, interactive digital tool, designed to assist decision-makers and practitioners in selecting the most suitable restoration strategies by leveraging the knowledge acquired through ongoing experiences in coastal restoration. This digital platform not only facilitates access to information but also enables the integration of new data on emerging techniques, making it a dynamic and evolving resource for coastal restoration management.This work has partially been funded from the European Union's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Action under Grant Agreement No◦101037097 (EU- REST-COAST - https://rest-coast.eu/). The authors would like to acknowledge Dr. Elisa Furlan, Dr. Francesca Coccon, Dr. Ing, Pierpaolo Campostrini, Dr. Ing. Valerio Volpe, and Dr. Cristophe Briere, for their collaboration throughout the project. This study was partly carried out within the RETURN Extended Partnership (AB) and received funding from the EU's NextGenerationEU (National Recovery and Resilience Plan – NRRP, Mission 4, Component 2, Investment 1.3 – D.D. 1243 2/8/2022, PE00000005).Peer ReviewedArticle signat per xx autors/es: Fabienne Horneman a,b,1, Alice Stocco b,1, Paolo Comandini c, Alberto Barausse c, Nuno Caiola d, Agustín Sánchez-Arcilla e, Vicente Gracia f, Richard Marijnissen g, Sara Pino Cobacho g, Luciana Villa Castrillon h,i, Joanna Staneva h, Elitsa Hineva j, Nataliya Andreeva j, Massimiliano Marino k, Rosaria Ester Musumeci k, Julien Dalle l, Mathis Cognat l, Olivier Boutron m, Morgane Jolivet m, Avi Uzan n, Shiri Zemah-Shamir o, Gregorz Rozynski p, Elisa Furlan a,b, Ignacio Gatti a,b, Caterina Dabal`a q, Fabio Pranovi b, Andrea Critto b,a, Silvia Rova b,r, Silvia Torresan a,b,* a CMCC Foundation - Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change, Italy b b Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, University Ca’ Foscari Venice, Via Torino 155, 30172 Venezia, Italy c Department of Biology, University of Padova, via U. Bassi 58/B, 35131 Padova, Italy d Eurecat, Technology Center of Catalonia, Dept. Climate Solutions and Ecosystem Services, Spain e Universitat Polit`ecnica de Catalunya (UPC), Spain f Laboratori d'Enginyeria Marítima, Universitat Polit`ecnica de Catalunya, Jordi Girona, 1 - 3, M`odul D1, Barcelona 08034, Spain g Deltares, Boussinesqweg 1, Delft 2629HV, the Netherlands h Institute of Coastal Systems - Analysis and Modeling, Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Geesthacht, Germany i Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment, University of Oldenburg, Wilhelmshaven, Germany j Institute of Oceanology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 40 Parvi may Blvd., 9000 Varna, Bulgaria k Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia 64, 95123 Catania, Italy l Seaboost, 34000 Montpellier, France m Tour du Valat Research Institute, 13200 Arles, France n Israel Nature and Park Authority (INPA), Israel o School of Sustainability, Reichman University, 8 Ha'Universita st.Herzliya, Herzliya 4610101, Israel p Institute of Hydro-Engineering, Polish Academy of Sciences, 7 Ko´scierska, 80-328 Gda´nsk, Poland q Consortium for Coordination of Research Activities Concerning the Venice Lagoon System (CORILA), San Polo 19, 30125 Venezia, Italy r International Centre for Climate Change Research and Studies, San Marco 2847, 30124 Venice, Italy20262026-02-0120262026-02-26journal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501VoRhttp://purl.org/coar/version/c_970fb48d4fbd8a85info:eu-repo/semantics/articleapplication/pdfhttps://hdl.handle.net/2117/456304https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2026.114629reponame:UPCommons. Portal del coneixement obert de la UPCinstname:Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)InglésengEuropean Commission http://doi.org/10.13039/100010661 Horizon 2020 Framework Programme 101037097 Large scale RESToration of COASTal ecosystems through rivers to sea connectivityopen accesshttp://purl.org/coar/access_right/c_abf2Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 Internationalhttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:upcommons.upc.edu:2117/4563042026-05-27T15:37:01Z
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