| Accretion | The process by which sediment, such as sand or silt, is deposited by wind, waves, or tidal action, leading to the growth of coastal landforms such as beaches, dunes and saltmarsh. |
| Adaptive management / adaptive approach | A flexible method of environmental management where actions are regularly monitored, reviewed and adjusted in response to changing conditions, evidence and outcomes. |
| Amphibians | Cold-blooded vertebrates that live both in water and on land during different stages of their life cycle, such as frogs, toads and newts. |
| Anthropogenic | Relating to environmental change, pressures or impacts that result from human activities, including development, pollution, land use change and infrastructure. |
| Benthic communities | Communities of organisms that live on, in or near the seabed or riverbed, forming an important part of aquatic ecosystems. |
| Biodiversity | The variety of plant, animal and microbial life within a particular habitat or ecosystem. |
| Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) | An approach to development and land management that aims to leave the natural environment in a measurably better state than before development. |
| Carbon sequestration | The process by which carbon dioxide is captured and stored in natural systems such as soils, vegetation and wetlands, helping to mitigate climate change. |
| Coastal processes | Natural physical processes, including wave action, tides, currents and wind, that shape the coastline over time. |
| Coastal squeeze | The loss of coastal habitats caused when natural processes are restricted between rising sea levels and fixed structures such as sea walls or development. |
| Designated sites | Areas that are legally protected for their environmental importance, including sites such as SSSIs, SACs, SPAs and Ramsar sites. |
| Dune slack | Low-lying, often waterlogged areas between sand dunes, typically supporting specialised plant communities and amphibians. |
| Dynamic dune system | A sand dune environment that is naturally shifting and evolving over time due to wind, wave action and sediment movement. |
| Ecosystem | A community of living organisms interacting with each other and their physical environment. |
| Ecosystem services | The wide range of benefits that ecosystems provide to people, including flood protection, recreation, climate regulation and carbon storage. |
| Embryo dunes | The earliest stage in dune formation, where wind-blown sand begins to accumulate around vegetation on the upper beach. |
| Erosion | The process by which land and sediment are worn away and removed by natural forces such as wind, waves and tidal action. |
| Eutrophication | The process by which water bodies become enriched with nutrients, leading to excessive plant and algal growth and reduced ecological quality. |
| European Protected Species (EPS) | Species protected under UK legislation, with strict controls on activities affecting individuals, breeding sites and resting places. |
| Favourable condition (SSSI) | A classification used by Natural England indicating that a protected site’s habitats and species are healthy and being appropriately managed. |
| Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM) | The management of risks associated with flooding and coastal erosion through policies, projects and natural or engineered measures. |
| Functionally linked habitat | Land outside designated sites that plays a critical role in supporting species that rely on those sites for feeding, breeding or movement. |
| Habitat | The natural environment in which a plant or animal lives. |
| Hydrodynamics | The movement and behaviour of water, including waves, tides and currents. |
| Invasive non-native species (INNS) | Species introduced outside their natural range that spread rapidly and can negatively impact native species and ecosystems. |
| Intertidal zone | The area of shoreline between high and low tide that is periodically exposed and submerged. |
| Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) | A statutory framework that identifies priorities, spatial areas and actions for nature recovery at a regional level. |
| Local Nature Reserve (LNR) | Sites designated by local authorities for their local ecological or geological importance and opportunities for public access. |
| Longshore drift | The movement of sand and sediment along the coast driven by wave action approaching the shore at an angle. |
| Managed realignment | A coastal management approach that involves allowing certain areas to flood naturally to reduce pressure on defences elsewhere. |
| Management Principles | Guiding approaches that define how conservation and management activities are delivered to achieve strategic objectives. |
| Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ) | A protected marine area designated to conserve important habitats, species and geological features. |
| National Nature Reserve (NNR) | Areas of national importance that represent the best examples of habitats and are managed for conservation, research and education. |
| Nature-based solutions | Actions that use natural processes and ecosystems to address environmental challenges such as climate change, flooding and biodiversity loss. |
| Protected Sites Strategies (PSS) | Collaborative approaches led by Natural England to improve the condition of protected sites at a landscape scale. |
| Ramsar Site | A wetland of international importance designated under the Ramsar Convention. |
| Resilience (ecological) | The ability of an ecosystem to recover from disturbance and adapt to environmental change. |
| Saltmarsh | A coastal habitat that is regularly flooded by seawater and supports specialised salt-tolerant vegetation. |
| Sediment transport | The movement of sand, silt and other materials by natural forces such as water and wind. |
| Scrub encroachment | The spread of shrubs into open habitats, often reducing biodiversity value and altering habitat structure. |
| Section 41 | A list of habitats and species of principal importance for biodiversity conservation under the NERC Act 2006. |
| Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI / ASSI) | Areas designated under legislation for their wildlife, geological or physiographical importance. |
| Special Area of Conservation (SAC) | Sites designated to protect important habitats and species under European legislation. |
| Special Protection Area (SPA) | Sites designated under the Birds Directive to protect rare, vulnerable and regularly occurring migratory bird species, along with the habitats that support them. SPAs form part of a wider network of internationally important protected sites. |
| Trampling pressure | Damage caused to vegetation and habitats by repeated human foot traffic. |
| UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP) | A framework identifying priority species and habitats for conservation action in the UK. |
| Waterfowl | Birds that live on or around water, such as ducks, geese and swans. |
