landreclamation

Land reclamation is the process of creating new land from bodies of water or converting submerged or unusable land into usable terrestrial property. It includes approaches that increase land area by infilling bays, lagoons, or wetlands, as well as raising ground level by depositing material on top of a subsiding site. Reclaimed land is used for urban development, ports, airports, industrial zones, agriculture, or flood defense. Distinctions are often made between land created from sea or tidal waters and land reclaimed from inland waters such as lakes or rivers.

Common methods include dredging and depositing sediment to raise ground elevation, constructing dikes or seawalls to control water, draining or de-watering wetlands, and stabilizing the underlying soils through compaction or the addition of binders. Modern projects may employ geotextiles, land grading, and composite materials, along with environmental safeguards.

Historically, land reclamation has been practiced for centuries, with successful polder systems in the Netherlands and extensive coastal expansions in East Asia and the Middle East. In the modern era, reclamation has supported rapid urbanization and economic development in cities such as Hong Kong, Singapore, and various Gulf states, though it also raises ecological and social concerns.

Environmental impacts include disruption of habitats, changes to coastal hydrology and sediment transport, water quality impacts, subsidence, and increased flood risk if protections fail. Social effects can involve displacement and changes to livelihoods. Regulating regimes typically require environmental impact assessments, public consultation, and long-term maintenance commitments, and sustainable approaches increasingly emphasize habitat restoration and nature-based solutions.