Adapting to Climate Change on the Suffolk Coastline through the Minsmere Flood Risk Management Scheme

Minsmere is located on the Suffolk coast in the south east of England (see Figure 1). The low-lying historic valley of the Minsmere River is today blocked off from the sea by coastal defences with a tidal sluice providing gravity drainage of the hinterland to the sea. Should the defences fail then 926ha of predominantly rural land will potentially be inundated by the sea during an extreme coastal surge event along with 12 properties and the RSPB reserve’s new visitor centre.

Much of the study area comprises of sites of international nature conservation significance, designated a Special Protection Area (SPA), Special Area of Conservation (SAC), and Ramsar wetland (collectively referred to as Natura 2000). Under international law, the UK Government is expected to conserve the overall integrity of the Natura 2000 complex. National designations are also present, including Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Area of Outstanding Natural beauty (AONB) status. Much of the site is the RSPB’s flagship Minsmere reserve, attracting over 90,000 visitors and thereby helping to support the local economy.