Coastal vulnerability is assessed through analysis of coastal zones that are vulnerable to change, such as through rising sea-levels or wider coastal change. The research includes analysis of natural heritage sites to determine how and why they are vulnerable, and how vulnerability manifests itself. Providing evidence to governments and non-government organisations to understand how to reduce vulnerability and help them achieve that.
For instance, one of our projects analyses shoreline change on UNESCO natural heritage sites to determine whether shorelines have accreted by depositing sediment, or have been recessional leading to erosion.
Although these coasts are in pristine condition, results indicated that many sites are severely impacted by human behaviour outside of the sites boundaries. This is being followed up by interviews with coastal managers to determine how they are responding to shoreline change.
