NEWS ARTICLES
Follow the Coastal Resilience team through recent news coverage.
Mangroves and Coral Reefs Yield Positive Return on Investment for Flood Protection, Study Finds
2022-06-24
World Economic Forum
Cristen Hemingway Jaynes
Using a benefit-risk analysis, researchers have found that mangroves and coral reefs can be cost-effective in reducing coastal flooding, a press release from the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC), said. Using risk and insurance industry techniques, the researchers were able to show that the gains from reduced damage from floods outweighed the costs of restoring the corals and mangroves, leading to a favorable return on investment.
Reefense project aims to meld biology and engineering in novel structures for coastal protection
2022-06-22
UC Santa Cruz
Tim Stephens
UCSC scientists are part of a DARPA-funded team to develop innovative solutions for coral reef restoration in Florida and the Caribbean to protect coastal infrastructure
Hawaii’s ‘million-dollar reefs’ need more funding to protect us, study finds
2021-04-19
Honolulu Star Advertiser
By Mindy Pennybacker
A new study shows U.S. coral reefs provide $1.8 billion in flood-risk benefits to property owners and people’s livelihoods every year, with top value assigned to the reef stretching offshore of Diamond Head, Waikiki and Kakaako.
Coral reefs prevent >$5.3 billion in potential U.S. flood damage
2021-04-15
UC Santa Cruz
By Tim Stephens
Coral reefs provide many services to coastal communities, including critical protection from flood damage. A new study led by researchers at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and the U.S. Geological Survey reveals how valuable coral reefs are in protecting people, structures, and economic activity in the United States from coastal flooding during storms.
A Race Against Time to Rescue a Reef From Climate Change
2020-12-05
The New York Times
By Catrin Einhorn and Christopher Flavelle
In an unusual experiment, a coral reef in Mexico is now insured against hurricanes. A team of locals known as “the Brigade” rushed to repair the devastated corals, piece by piece.
AXA Chair at UC Santa Cruz funds efforts to build coastal resilience naturally
2020-12-01
UC Santa Cruz
By Tim Stephens
Marine scientist Michael Beck was awarded the chair to support his work on natural defenses to enhance coastal resilience to flooding, erosion, and sea level rise.
UCSC professor awarded more than $1 million to research coastal resiliency
2020-12-01
Santa Cruz Sentinel
Hannah Hagemann
AXA, a global insurance company, has awarded UC Santa Cruz marine science Research Professor Michael Beck more than $1 million in funding to further his lab’s research into how reefs and marshes combat sea-level rise and related natural disasters.
UCSC professor awarded more than $1 million to research coastal resiliency
2020-12-01
Santa Cruz Sentinel
Hannah Hagemann
AXA, a global insurance company, has awarded UC Santa Cruz marine science Research Professor Michael Beck more than $1 million in funding to further his lab’s research into how reefs and marshes combat sea-level rise and related natural disasters.
New AXA Chair at UC Santa Cruz to Build Coastal Resilience Naturally
2020-12-01
AXA Research Fund
By Tim Stephens
Marine scientist Michael Beck was awarded the chair to support his work on natural defenses to enhance coastal resilience to flooding, erosion, and sea level rise.
Nature-Based Approaches to Urban Shoreline Protection
2020-12-22
Biohabitats
By Amy Nelson
Expert Q&A: Dr. Michael Beck. His research is strengthening the economic argument for investment in the protection and restoration of coastal ecosystems.
Researchers put a dollar value on the protection coral reefs provide Hawaii shorelines ... and it’s big
2019-05-04
Hawaii News Now
By Ben Gutierrez
Having a nice beach with peaceful waves lapping at the shoreline is often taken for granted in Hawaii. But the reefs also protect the shoreline from larger waves and damage. “If you were standing in Waikiki and you just have little bitty waves lapping up at your feet, but then you look offshore and you can see ten-foot waves or more breaking offshore, well, that’s the reef at work for you,” said Michael Beck...
Hawaii’s reefs provide more than $835M in flood protection, study shows
2019-05-04
Star Advertiser
By Nina Wu
A new study places a dollar value on Hawaii’s reefs — not for their natural beauty or as a tourist attraction, but for their function in providing flood protection...
