Too salty to farm: rethinking coastal land use in response to soil salinization

Samenvatting

Soil salinization poses a growing threat to agriculture in coastal plains, exacerbated by climate change and sea-level rise. Assalinization worsens, conventional soil regenerative practices become less effective, particularly in low-lying areas wheresaltwater intrusion and land subsidence intensify the issue. This position paper advocates for a shift from conventional agricul-ture toward nature-based approaches, such as the restoration of intertidal ecosystems, as a more sustainable alternative. Thesenature-based approaches harness natural processes to provide key ecosystem services, including enhanced biodiversity, carbonsequestration, flood protection, and improved water quality, often surpassing the benefits of maintaining degraded farmland.Despite challenges like societal resistance, case studies such as Plan Tureluur demonstrate the potential for successful adapta-tion. We call for a balanced discussion on prioritizing ecosystem health and coastal resilience over conventional agriculture insalinized regions, underscoring the need to rethink land use strategies to achieve sustainability in coastal areas