Nature-Based Resilience for Gulf Coast Communities

This briefing transcript discusses the implementation of nature-based infrastructure—such as wetlands, oyster reefs, and dunes—to enhance coastal resilience against sea level rise and extreme weather in the U.S. Gulf Coast region. Experts highlight the cost-effectiveness and co-benefits of these solutions compared to traditional 'gray' infrastructure and call for federal policy reforms to prioritize the beneficial use of dredged sediment and pre-disaster mitigation funding.

• Natural infrastructure, also referred to as green infrastructure or nature-based solutions, provides risk reduction from threats like flooding and storm surge while offering co-benefits such as urban cooling, carbon absorption, water quality improvement, and wildlife habitat.
• Healthy coral reefs can reduce wave energy by 95%, and a study of the eastern seaboard following Hurricane Sandy found that existing wetlands prevented $625 million in damages to homes and structures in Virginia.

APA

Environmental and Energy Study Institute (2019). Nature-Based Resilience for Gulf Coast Communities. https://www.eesi.org/files/transcript_062519.pdf

Chicago

Environmental and Energy Study Institute. Nature-Based Resilience for Gulf Coast Communities. 2019. https://www.eesi.org/files/transcript_062519.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Environmental and Energy Study Institute |title=Nature-Based Resilience for Gulf Coast Communities |date=June 2019 |url=https://www.eesi.org/files/transcript_062519.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{environmentalandenergystudyinstitute2019naturebased, author = {{Environmental and Energy Study Institute}}, title = {{Nature-Based Resilience for Gulf Coast Communities}}, institution = {Environmental and Energy Study Institute}, year = {2019}, month = jun, url = {https://www.eesi.org/files/transcript_062519.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }