What term refers to working with natural processes, such as beach nourishment?

The term that refers to working with natural processes, such as beach nourishment, is accurately identified as soft engineering. Soft engineering employs natural methods and processes to manage coastal areas while minimizing environmental impact. Beach nourishment itself involves adding sand or sediment to a beach area to help restore it and protect against erosion, which exemplifies the use of natural processes in coastal management.

In contrast, hard engineering typically involves constructing solid structures like sea walls and groynes to resist natural forces, often leading to significant alterations of the coastal environment. Environmental management encompasses broader strategies including policies and practices designed to manage natural resources and mitigate human impact on the environment, rather than specifically focusing on coastal issues. Coastal protection is a more general term that can include both soft and hard engineering methods. Therefore, the specific use of the term soft engineering here precisely highlights the approach that cooperates with and enhances natural coastal processes.