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Adaptation of low lying Coastal

areas to changing climate conditionsThe example of the Wesermarsch region (Germany)

Simon Berlo, Belgium Heike Haegens, Belgium

Monique Bienenmann-Ploum, The Netherlands Andrei Mihai, Romania

Alexandra Gerea, Romania Elisavet Zagkle, Greece

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Problem Definition

Climate Change

Impacts: Sealever rise

Coastal Areas

WesermarschCounty of 

Germany

What adaptation strategies to climate change can be

adopted by the local community of Wesermarsch, and

how can they suit the local community, environment and

economy?

Research Question

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Adaptation

• ‘Adjustment in ecological, social or economic

systems in response to actual or expected

climatic stimuli and their effects or impacts’.(Smith et al .,1999 )

• It is often seen as complementary to

mitigation (UNFCCC 1997; McCarthy et al ., 2001)

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Study Area: Wesermarsch County

Problems in the region:

• Water management

problems

• Water surplus in wintertime

and water deficits in

summer time

• Local communities do not

want any changes

(Bormann et al ., 2012)

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Method

• Literature review

• Key words

• Scientific search machine and scientific sites

ex. scholargoogle.com, Sciencedirect, Webofknowledge,

European Union, IPCC and TIDE website (http://tide-project.eu)

• Time period: 3 months

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Soil Function 

• Climate

• Soil (marine sediments)

75% marsh and 15% peat

soils, 0.5% sandy

• Rich in organic, porosity

• 90% agriculture

Map with the types of soil in the Wesermarsch areaSource: Bormann et al., 2012

What we recommend: 

1. adequate drainage system,

2. fluvisol type of soil, the areas with histosols, the uncultivated lands

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Flood Control Area (FCA)

lowered dike

Controlled Reduced Tide (CRT)

sluices

Water Management

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Water Management & Agriculture

Salt Water Problem inWesermarsch

Solution to the problem

Salt-water intrusion

Agricultural Land

Salt water

inletchannels

•Create storage areas for fresh

water on small and large scale

•Use fresh water storage areas

for inlet into the channels

•Groundwater level raise will

reduce salt-water intrusions

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Renewable Energy

- Very suitable for wind energy

- Factories already exist in the area

- Renewable energy supported by

Germany

- Energy for drainage systems, jobs,

sustainability

Wind energy (both onshore and offshore) are good solutions for the area.

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Biodiversity

Wesermarsch species andecosystems under

threat

Human Activities &

Climate Change

• shallow water zones of the Weser

River disappeared

• sea grass, marine invertebrates

• species that are of high ecological

importance in Wesermarsch

Avocet

Twaide Shad

Snake’s Head

Fritillary

Bulbous

FoxtailSeal

Mudflat

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Policy

(EEA, 2013)

Natura 2000:“Combine environmental protection and 

sustainable use.”  

•Birds Directive Sites•Habitats Directive Sites

Legal assessment of proposed measures

Water framework directive“ Good ecological and chemical status.”  

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stimulating repressive

Juridical model agreement command, order

Economic model allowance legal charges

Communication

modelinforming propaganda

Local People

Table: Policy Tools

• Proof to policy makers

• Educate people

-Similar case in Belgium

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Adaptive Capacity Wheel

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Adaptive Capacity Wheel• Intellectual capital

• Variety

• Learning capacity

• Social capital

• Resources

• Room for autonomous

change

• Political capital• Fair governance

• Leadership

•Different scientificadaptation

strategies are

available

• Discussions about

implementation are

on-going with a

stakeholder group

•

Local community doesn’t want tochange

• Adaptation will have big influence

on social lives

• Education of local people is needed

• Take care of treats climate change pose

on the long term.

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Discussion & Conclusion

• Adaptive Capacity Wheel

• Educating both policymakers & inhabitants

• Implement water management strategies

• Renewable energy

• Protecting biodiversity

• Sustainable development

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