Abstract

Tidal wetlands such as salt marshes are vulnerable to global change, as sea level rise, growing storm intensity and human activities increase pressure on their sustainability. On the other hand, tidal wetlands are also increasingly valued as natural adaptive defenses against the coastal impacts of climate change, as they can adapt to sea level rise by sediment accretion, attenuate wind waves and storm surges, and mitigate shoreline erosion and flooding risks. This presentation gives an overview of research carried out at the University of Antwerp (Belgium), how this research contributes to our knowledge on this apparent contradiction between the high vulnerability and coastal defense value of tidal wetlands, and how this knowledge can serve in large-scale implementation of effective sustainable management of coastal and estuarine systems in the face of global change.