Title : Eco-innovations for coastal resilience: Natural alternatives to industrial barriers
Abstract:
Coastal zones are highly vulnerable to the accelerating impacts of sea level rise, storm surges, and anthropogenic pressures. Traditional industrial barriers such as concrete seawalls and steel structures provide rigid protection but often harm marine ecosystems, disrupt sediment balance, and incur significant ecological and economic costs. This research proposes a novel eco-innovative strategy that employs locally available natural stones and rocks as protective barriers, enhanced through coatings of natural oils to improve their durability, bio-compatibility, and resistance to marine weathering. By integrating geological materials with environmentally friendly surface treatments, these eco-barriers not only mitigate erosion and wave impacts but also harmonize with marine ecosystems, promoting biodiversity and reducing environmental footprint. Case studies and experimental models demonstrate how oil-coated stones can function as sustainable shoreline defences, offering advantages over conventional concrete structures in terms of adaptability, cost-effectiveness, and ecological integration. The findings highlight the potential of geo-based and oil-treated natural materials as a sustainable alternative that aligns coastal protection with ecological resilience and long-term climate adaptation strategies.
