Transforming coastal lowland systems threatened by sea-level rise into prosperous communities.

Our coastal lowlands are valued for many reasons, including unique ecological wetlands, cultural sites of significance, valued recreational areas, highly-productive agriculture and are popular places to live.

Unstoppable sea-level rise (SLR) will force changes to coastal lowlands and our use of these environments. Future challenges include:
-Rising groundwater levels
-Increasing frequency of coastal flooding and permanent inundation
-Salinisation (salt-intrusion to fresh groundwater)
-Loss of productive farmlands
-Coastal squeeze, which is the loss of intertidal habitat “squeezed” between rising seas and inland barriers
-Loss of ecologically unique and culturally significant wetland ecosystems.

Communities who depend on these coastal lowlands face considerable barriers to successfully transforming in the face of relative sea-level rise. Transformation requires developing the right tools to achieve “whole-of- system” adaptation across social and cultural well-beings, economic systems and natural environments. Successful transformation is achieved by supporting iwi/hapū/whānau aspirations as we balance protection and existing land-use rights with efforts to preserve and enhance ecological habitats.

Future Coast Aotearoa addresses this challenge by investigating how we can successfully transform coastal lowlands in terms of what to do, why to do it, where and when to do it?

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