Interagency Coastal Geomorphology Group (ICGG)

Who are we?

The Interagency Coastal Geomorphology Group (ICGG) is a cross-country common interest group centred around coastal geomorphology. Current members cover England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and are from:

What do we do?

Working on the coast can demand a wide range of knowledge and experience including an understanding of the hydrodynamic and sediment transport processes, geology and geomorphology and habitats and species. Our roles involve evidence gathering, input to policy, casework advice, development of guidance, and delivery of projects.

The ICGG is a great way to pool this knowledge and experience, deepen our understanding of issues, share problems, and seek help and support. It’s a small but incredibly helpful community with a shared interest in sustainable coastal management.

Due to overlaps in our remits and objectives, we aim to work together to:

Align Advice
Share and produce joint guidance for more consistent advice.
Enhance Evidence Base
Collaborate with each other, academia, and partners to improve understanding of new monitoring technologies.
Share Best Practice
Exchange knowledge on managing and restoring the coastal environment.
Promote Geomorphology Awareness
Increase understanding of its importance within and beyond our organisations.
Facilitate Cross-Cutting Discussions
Focused on themes related to coastal geomorphology.

Research priorities

The ICGG has developed a database of critical evidence gaps in applied coastal geomorphology. The database serves as a foundation for fostering collaboration and developing research projects with real-world applications. These initiatives may include directly commissioning key studies or co-supervising PhD students to align academic research with practical coastal management goals. There is no guaranteed funding available to address any of the listed evidence gaps, but we can provide advice on potential funding streams and can do our best to help you obtain external funding for specific projects.

Access the database here and please do get in contact with us via this survey if you would be interested in collaborating with the ICGG or if you would like to make us aware of any research relevant to these areas.

– Anissia Halwyn, Natural England on behalf of the ICGG