Managed Retreat – Allowing cliff erosion to occur as nature takes its course: erosion in some areas, deposition in others

Benefits include less money spent and the creation of natural environments. It may involve setting back or realigning the shoreline and allowing the sea to flood areas that were previously protected by embankments or seawalls.

To remember the meaning of the term Managed Retreat, use the following mnemonic:

We managed to retreat (managed retreat) before the cliff collapsed.

Apart from allowing cliffs to recede, managed retreat is also about the flooding of lowland areas that previously had flood defence measures in place. It is used in areas where the land is considered to be of low value.

Managed retreat can actually reduce coastal flooding and erosion. While landowners are usually compensated, it is still a less expensive option than protecting the areas.

Managed retreat has other advantages – sometimes including the creation of salt marshes, which are beneficial to the environment, and the gradual development of bigger beaches.