Abstract
The Environment Agency is responsible for the strategic overview for flood and coastal management for England. With partner organisations, the Environment Agency has delivered over 50 managed realignment projects in the UK in the past three decades. In result, by the end of 2014, over 900 ha of intertidal habitat will have been created through managed realignment. Future strategic plans include realignment of 10 % of the country’s coastline by 2030. This chapter describes the drivers for the implementation of managed realignment as a mechanism for delivering flood risk and environmental policies, and the opportunities and challenges that exist. A description of lessons learned so far and the role of emerging ecosystems services and biodiversity offsetting approaches to support managed realignment strategies is also provided.
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Notes
- 1.
The EA’s corporate reports, including updates, can be accessed from: http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/aboutus/149594.aspx.
- 2.
Project reports are available from: http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/floods/123710.aspx.
- 3.
Information about the partnership and the Deben Estuary Plan can be found at: http://www.suffolkcoastandheaths.org/projects-and-partnerships/deben-estuary-partnership/.
- 4.
Further details about biodiversity offsetting in the UK can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/biodiversity-offsetting.
- 5.
The consultation outcomes will be available from: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/biodiversity-offsetting-in-england.
- 6.
The project was funded by Making Space for Water-Defra 2007 Innovation Fund, which was set up to share £ 1.2 million across UK to non-government projects concerning adaptation to climate change.
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Thomas, K. (2014). Managed Realignment in the UK: The Role of the Environment Agency. In: Managed Realignment : A Viable Long-Term Coastal Management Strategy?. SpringerBriefs in Environmental Science. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-9029-1_8
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