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Protecting undeveloped land within floodplains significantly reduces property damage caused by flooding events, as shown by an eleven-year nationwide study of 450 communities. Communities protecting open space under...

Brody, Samuel D., and Wesley E. Highfield. (2013). Open space protection and flood mitigation: A national study. Land Use Policy, 32, 89-95.

A review of 14 studies conducted worldwide shows that salt marshes slow waves and stabilize shorelines. Wider marshes with more dense vegetation and higher biomass slow waves to a greater extent and stabilize...

Shepard, Christine C., Caitlin M. Crain, and Michael W. Beck. (2011). The protective role of coastal marshes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One, 6(11), e27374.

A review of 15 studies finds overwhelming support that mangrove and salt marsh vegetation protects against erosion, storm surge, and potentially small tsunami waves. While wetland vegetation cannot protect...

Gedan, Keryn B., Matthew L. Kirwan, Eric Wolanski, Edward B. Barbier, and Brian R. Silliman. (2011). The present and future role of coastal wetland vegetation in protecting shorelines: answering recent challenges to the paradigm. Climatic Change, 106(1), 7-29.