Coral reef restoration can reduce coastal contamination and pollution hazards
Abstract Coral reef restoration can reduce the wave-driven flooding for coastal communities. However, this protection has yet to be assessed in terms of the reduced risk of flood-driven environmental contamination. Here we provide the first high-resolution valuation of the reduction of flood-related...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Communications Earth & Environment |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02019-4 |
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| author | Marina E. Rottmueller Curt D. Storlazzi Fabian Frick |
| author_facet | Marina E. Rottmueller Curt D. Storlazzi Fabian Frick |
| author_sort | Marina E. Rottmueller |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Coral reef restoration can reduce the wave-driven flooding for coastal communities. However, this protection has yet to be assessed in terms of the reduced risk of flood-driven environmental contamination. Here we provide the first high-resolution valuation of the reduction of flood-related land-based environmental pollution provided by potential coral reef restoration. Along Florida’s 460 km-long coral reef-fringed coastline, coral reef restoration could reduce the risk of sewage and petrochemical contamination by preventing the flooding of petroleum storage tank systems (-9%), onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems (-4%), and wastewater treatment plants (-10%). The present value of critical infrastructure protection and contamination prevention benefits provided by coral reef restoration is $3,413,503, with some areas exceeding $1,500,000/km. Annually, 48,403 U.S. gal of petrochemicals, 10,404 GPD of wastewater treatment capacity, equivalent to $281,435, could be protected from flooding, demonstrating that coral reef restoration can provide environmental risk reduction and previously undocumented additional socioeconomic benefits. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-154ce6bcf6394118a268dfdb6449b9a0 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2662-4435 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Communications Earth & Environment |
| spelling | doaj-art-154ce6bcf6394118a268dfdb6449b9a02025-01-26T12:54:03ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Earth & Environment2662-44352025-01-016111410.1038/s43247-025-02019-4Coral reef restoration can reduce coastal contamination and pollution hazardsMarina E. Rottmueller0Curt D. Storlazzi1Fabian Frick2Technical University of Munich (TUM), Chair of Agricultural Production and Resource EconomicsU.S. Geological Survey, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science CenterTechnical University of Munich (TUM), Chair of Agricultural Production and Resource EconomicsAbstract Coral reef restoration can reduce the wave-driven flooding for coastal communities. However, this protection has yet to be assessed in terms of the reduced risk of flood-driven environmental contamination. Here we provide the first high-resolution valuation of the reduction of flood-related land-based environmental pollution provided by potential coral reef restoration. Along Florida’s 460 km-long coral reef-fringed coastline, coral reef restoration could reduce the risk of sewage and petrochemical contamination by preventing the flooding of petroleum storage tank systems (-9%), onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems (-4%), and wastewater treatment plants (-10%). The present value of critical infrastructure protection and contamination prevention benefits provided by coral reef restoration is $3,413,503, with some areas exceeding $1,500,000/km. Annually, 48,403 U.S. gal of petrochemicals, 10,404 GPD of wastewater treatment capacity, equivalent to $281,435, could be protected from flooding, demonstrating that coral reef restoration can provide environmental risk reduction and previously undocumented additional socioeconomic benefits.https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02019-4 |
| spellingShingle | Marina E. Rottmueller Curt D. Storlazzi Fabian Frick Coral reef restoration can reduce coastal contamination and pollution hazards Communications Earth & Environment |
| title | Coral reef restoration can reduce coastal contamination and pollution hazards |
| title_full | Coral reef restoration can reduce coastal contamination and pollution hazards |
| title_fullStr | Coral reef restoration can reduce coastal contamination and pollution hazards |
| title_full_unstemmed | Coral reef restoration can reduce coastal contamination and pollution hazards |
| title_short | Coral reef restoration can reduce coastal contamination and pollution hazards |
| title_sort | coral reef restoration can reduce coastal contamination and pollution hazards |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02019-4 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT marinaerottmueller coralreefrestorationcanreducecoastalcontaminationandpollutionhazards AT curtdstorlazzi coralreefrestorationcanreducecoastalcontaminationandpollutionhazards AT fabianfrick coralreefrestorationcanreducecoastalcontaminationandpollutionhazards |