Coral reefs are as good as concrete defenses in protecting tropical coastal cities from rising seas but are far cheaper, scientists said in a study published on Tuesday. Instead of committing billions of dollars to build breakwaters and sea walls, many tropical cities should consider conserving or restoring their coral reefs, they said. The paper, published in the journal Nature Communications, coincides with findings that the West Antarctic ice sheet is starting to collapse—a phenomenon that will slowly drive up sea levels over hundreds of years. Researchers led by Michael Beck at the University of California at Santa Cruz estimated that coral reefs dissipate up to 97 percent of the energy that waves would otherwise deliver to a shoreline.

Ingham, R. (2014, May 21). Coral reefs cheaper than concrete to protect cost cites. Manila Bulletin, p. 12.