“The major fortunes in America have been made in land.” – John D. Rockefeller. Developing coastal land in Florida is no easy feat – not just because of the technicalities and logistics involved but also due to its location on the coastline. With a rapidly escalating sea level, developers have their work cut out for them. But rising sea levels don’t necessarily terminate all hopes of a successful development project on the coasts; with intelligent designs and planning it can be done — though in many cases it’ll require some innovative problem solving.
Sustainable Coastal Development in Florida: Meeting Challenges and Embracing Solutions
The first step is understanding what everyone is up against: according to Scientific American; average estimates predict that anywhere between $15-36 billion worth of property will be inundated or otherwise damaged due to rising sea levels over most areas within our 2050 timeline. In order to prevent damage from occurring, builders will need an offsite perspective as well as local input regarding physical characteristics of the coastline — turbulent waves, tides and rip currents; population size and existing development around the area; plus a long term precedent for adequate infrastructure response at the county or state level, should another similar event occur sometime down the line. Given this situation proper solutions must then take into account both immediate objectives such as successfully building something and hyper long-term contingencies (like having methods in place for effective recovery measures). Advertising has kicked-off lately for storm-protected homes and buildings capable of making a stand up to high winds; for instance a tall residential building in downtown Miami was intended to withstand wind speeds reaching 300 mph; developers are also employing building codes that require new construction and city infrastructure to be elevated (like what Fort Lauderdale is doing). These projects aren’t cheap – hauling supplies along flooded roads, raising foundations riverside of coastal highways, all get pricey fast, but they are necessary for protecting the Florida coast from future sea level rise.
Balancing Tree Removal and Forest Health: Considerations for Project Sites
By cutting down the number of trees around your project site, you can reduce risks associated with erosion damage while mitigating chances that any tree debris from fallen branches will cause harm in surrounding homes/structures; it also reduces overcrowding between existing mature trees which creates competition for scarce resources like light and water. The result is a healthier forest ecosystem that actively contributes to keeping excess moisture away from structural foundations during periods of extended rainfall (which increases durability). That said, cracking down on their removal without professional help could be dangerous: thinning out certain species too much could make them more vulnerable to diseases or pests; it can destroy existing natural habitats, and if done irresponsibly can lead to soil erosion. Environmental assessments are needed to ensure that controlled and professional tree removal is conducted in an ecologically responsible manner – you won’t want to cause any unnecessary harm or ecological damage.
So when it comes down to surviving the effects of climate change on real estate development, getting strategic about resiliency planning strategies should be at the top of your list. With proper implementation it could mean the difference between market thriving properties or destruction altogether.
