Sustainable coastal zone development in harmony with the natural environment: Integrated Coastal Policy via Building with Nature: Flexible integration of land in sea and of water in land, making use of materials and forces present in nature

Many civilisations foud their origin in the border zone land-water in coastal and deltaic regions. In the year 2000 approximately eighty percent of the largest population centres in the world can be found in those areas. Striking examples can be found in nearly all parts of the world.There we have to deal with many existing and forthcoming problems that need solutions, but also with challenging opportunities.In all these cases - without exception - there is only little space available for living, working, infrastructure, tourism & recreation, while there is the need to preserve or expand valuable environment, nature and landscape. Apart from in due time stabilization of the world pupulation, there are in principle three spatial solutions: a) making better use of the 3rd dimension, including multi-functional use within the present available space; b) using space in the existing hinterland; c) land reclamation through flexible integration of land in sea and of water in the new land.Integrated Multi-Functional Sustainable Coastal Zone Development, based on careful analysis of these regions and their climate, their soil and subsoil characteristics, their river systems, the bordering sea and oceans, flora and fauna, and present use, gives an answer to the question how we can solve existing and future problems in relation to each other and in relation to the hinterland on one hand and in relation to the bordering sea on the other. Thereby, not only solving problems, but also creating added value.An important element of integrated coastal policy - apart from but also including coastal protection and water resources management - is land reclamation using as much as possible the principle of building with nature.Existing and forthcoming problems in coastal zone and hinterland can be solved and new opportunities can be found. Learning from mistakes and using the achievements of the past, the challenge of the future can be met, including sustainable development

Integrated coastal policy via Building with Nature

The thesis which appears here is excerpted from the book Integrated Coastal Zone Development via Building with Nature® (Waterman 2008a, 2008b). Although this approach was first applied in the Netherlands, it has gradually been recognized worldwide as a harmonious means of creating land areas for living, working, tourism & recreation, and infrastructure, whilst ensuring the preservation or expansion of valuable environmental resources, nature and landscape. In addition, climate change resulting in sea-level rise, more frequent and intense storm-surges are taken in to account, as well as land subsidence and salt water intrusion. The most extensive applications are found in the Netherlands, but remarkable examples also exist or are in progress bordering densely populated coastal and delta areas elsewhere in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Far East, the Americas, Australia, as well as numerous waterfront developments on lakes, rivers and canals. With approximately 80 percent of the largest population centres in the world situated on coasts and deltas, the need for sound, integrated coastal zone development via building with nature” is urgent and appropriate. The flexible integration of land-in-water and of water-in-land, using materials and forces & interactions present in nature is an environmentally friendly and economically advantageous system which is gaining more and more acceptance worldwide. In implementing this method a new flexible dynamic equilibrium coastline is created using sand from the sea, consisting of a new primary range of dunes with a new beach in front and with a minimum of solid sea-wall elements. The emphasis is no longer on inflexible solid bulwarks against the sea, like dams & dykes, but instead on flexible soft structures in harmony with the sea, like dunes & beaches.Hydraulic EngineeringCivil Engineering and Geoscience