# Nature-Based Solutions Cut Coastal Protection Costs by 62 Percent Restoring natural ecosystems proves significantly cheaper than traditional concrete engineering for Brazilian coastal cities. - **Source:** [Agência Brasil](https://agenciabrasil.ebc.com.br) - **Published:** 2026-11-11 - **Topic:** [climate](https://brifing.si/c/climate) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/335810a1-24e2-4992-9ecf-03d0092b0257 ## Economic Advantage of Nature A new study reveals that protecting Brazilian coastal cities through ecosystem restoration can be 62 percent cheaper than conventional engineering. By utilizing natural barriers like mangroves, dunes, and coral reefs, municipalities can mitigate erosion and sea-level rise. This research was conducted by the Fundação Grupo Boticário alongside UNIFESP and Kralingen Consultoria. ## Scope of the Study Researchers analyzed six Brazilian municipalities, including Santos, Rio de Janeiro, and Natal, to compare natural protection against gray infrastructure. The findings were officially presented at the 31st UN Climate Change Conference in Antalya, Turkey. The study highlights that nature provides measurable economic services that are often overlooked in standard urban planning. ## Urbanization and Implementation Costs The cost-effectiveness of natural solutions depends heavily on available space and urban density. In Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana, restoring restinga vegetation costs only 38 percent of traditional concrete walls. However, in highly urbanized areas like Santos, the need to remove existing structures increases implementation costs to 58.6 percent of gray infrastructure. ## Complex Urban Environments Even in densely built areas where natural restoration requires complex interventions, nature-based solutions remain competitive. In Florianópolis, despite the need to acquire property for restoration, natural infrastructure costs reached 87.1 percent of hybrid engineering alternatives. This demonstrates that nature remains a viable, cost-effective strategy even when space is significantly constrained. ## Hidden Costs of Degradation Decision-makers often ignore the economic value of natural protection until ecosystems are destroyed. In Natal, the loss of dunes and beaches at Ponta Negra resulted in 145 million reais in public reconstruction costs between 2011 and 2025. Furthermore, tourism losses in the region reached an additional 121 million reais during that period. ## Impact on Local Communities Degradation of coastal ecosystems imposes direct financial burdens on residents and local economies. In Salinópolis, the loss of mangroves cost society 76 million reais over three decades. Data indicates that 72 percent of economic losses from flooding stem from residential damage, averaging 2,540 reais in annual losses per household due to missing protection. ## Ecosystem Protective Mechanisms Natural ecosystems act as highly efficient buffers against extreme weather events. Scientific evidence shows that just 100 meters of mangrove forest can reduce wave force by over 60 percent. Beyond protection, these preserved areas bolster local biodiversity, support sustainable fishing practices, enhance tourism potential, and contribute significantly to long-term carbon storage. ## Shifting Infrastructure Paradigms The study concludes that current infrastructure budgets are incomplete because they exclude the value of natural services. Moving forward, urban planning must integrate ecosystem restoration to avoid the recurring expenses of rebuilding concrete structures. Protecting the coastline requires a long-term perspective that prioritizes natural resilience over temporary, high-cost engineering fixes. ## Sources covering this story - https://agenciabrasil.ebc.com.br/meio-ambiente/noticia/2026-11/solucoes-naturais-custam-ate-62-menos-na-protecao-de-cidades-costeira — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._