To highlight these opportunities, the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) and PROBLUE published Nature-Based Solutions for Beach Stabilization: Opportunities for the Tourism Sector, a report aimed at strengthening the tourism sector’s understanding of how coastal NBS can address sandy beach erosion while enhancing climate resilience and benefiting tourism. The report provides a catalogue of techniques under two practical categories for beach stabilization: (1) purely nature-based approaches, such as saltmarsh, mangrove, seagrass, reef, or dune restoration; and (2) sediment management solutions, ranging from soft interventions that use natural, low-impact materials to gradually stabilize beaches, to more intensive measures bringing in large volumes of sand, often with heavy machinery, when there is an urgent need to preserve the recreational value of beaches.
The report, led by GFDRR’s thematic area, the Global Program on Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Resilience, highlights five case studies that encourage tourism stakeholders to consider NBS as a strategic, sustainable development option. For example, in Mauritania, the World Bank is supporting the government to implement the West Africa Coastal Areas Resilience Investment Project to stabilize the coastal dunes of Nouakchott. The project combines vegetative planting and sand stabilization techniques to restore the dunes’ natural protective function, while also rehabilitating nearby wetlands and mangroves, replenishing beaches, and constructing seawalls and dikes. This hybrid approach aims to reduce risks from erosion and flooding across approximately 12,600 hectares of coastal land, protecting 41,600 households, while enhancing biodiversity and promoting ecotourism.
Similarly, in Uruguay, a coastal adaptation project in the Kiyu region focused on regenerating eroded sand dunes to counter the growing risks from sea-level rise, storm surges, and strong winds. The initiative combined natural material fencing, sustainable drainage systems, and the revegetation of dunes with native plants to restore their protective function, while zoning measures were introduced to reduce human pressure and enhance the beach’s recreational value. Together, these actions are helping safeguard both the local tourism industry and the agricultural sector that depend on the stability of the coastline.
NBS present a powerful opportunity for the tourism sector to align climate and economic resilience. This report outlines practical guidance on costs, benefits, and strategies for beach stabilization, drawn from recent international experience. By accelerating the adoption of these approaches, the World Bank aims to help strengthen coastal resilience, support the tourism industry, and promote more inclusive jobs and opportunities.
Full report: Nature-based Solutions for Beach Stabilization: Opportunities for the Tourism Sector
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