Coastal ecosystems including coral and oyster reefs, coastal forests including mangroves and other tree species, salt marshes and other types of wetland habitat, seagrass, dunes and barrier islands can reduce impacts of coastal flooding and storms   . Recent literature highlights the value of nature-based approaches for coastal protection in terms of avoided damages and human well-being . NBS can protect coasts from flooding through reducing the wave energy by drag friction, reducing wave overtopping by eliminating vertical barriers, and absorbing floodwaters in soil . For example, coastal and marine vegetation and reefs can dissipate wave energy, attenuate wave heights and nearshore currents, decrease the extent of wave run-up on beaches, and trap sediments . These effects result in lower water levels and reduce shoreline erosion, which in turn has potential to save lives and prevent expensive property damages .
IPCC
Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability
IPCC Report