2024-B10 The role of landslides on coastal environment changes  

Overview

Many UK coastal areas face threats from rapid erosion, cliff retreat, and landslides (Figure 1). These threats are likely exacerbated by climate change, sea-level rise and shifting rainfall patterns. Additionally, human activities, including infrastructure development and coastal engineering practices can disrupt natural coastal dynamics. Coastal defences, designed for protection, sometimes inadvertently contribute to a phenomenon known as “coastal catch-up,” where underlying coastal processes persist, leading to sudden and potentially disruptive consequences1,2. The UK coastline encompasses numerous “Sites of Special Scientific Interest” (SSSIs) that are vital natural areas for conserving unique ecosystems, species, and geological features. These SSSIs span diverse habitats, including woodlands, wetlands, and coastal zones, and play a pivotal role in biodiversity conservation3,4. Beyond their ecological significance, SSSIs also provide controlled environments for scientific research and offer essential ecosystem services such as clean air, water, pollination, carbon storage, and flood mitigation. 

Natural England plays a pivotal role in safeguarding SSSIs through monitoring, threat assessment, and long-term monitoring plans. To address the complex challenges posed by the dynamic nature of coastal areas and their intersection with conservation efforts, the project takes a unique, multidisciplinary approach by integrating geological, ecological, climatological, and engineering perspectives. This approach aims to enhance our understanding of coastal landslides and their impact on conservation efforts, providing insights into how conservation areas may evolve under the influence of landslide processes and guiding effective management strategies. 

The project’s specific objectives include improving our comprehension of coastal landslides, their interactions with climate change factors, and their responses to shifting rainfall patterns, increased storminess, and rising sea levels. It will develop dynamic indices to assess the susceptibility of specific SSSIs to landslides over time, supporting condition assessments and land-use decisions. Additionally, the research will examine the short- and long-term effects of coastal landslides on the boundaries and physical characteristics of SSSIs, with a particular focus on SSSIs linked to biodiversity conservation or sensitive to infrastructure development, such as carbon storage facilities and offshore wind farms. Furthermore, the project will investigate the role of coastal engineering practices in exacerbating coastal landslides, potentially leading to the loss of SSSIs. 

Figure 1. Maps of England and Wales showing overlap along coasts between SSSIs (left, from magic.defra.gov.uk) and landslides (right, from BGS).