Managed retreat is the purposeful, coordinated relocation of people, infrastructure, and ecosystems away from high-risk hazard zones (such as coastlines vulnerable to sea-level rise, floodplains, or wildfire-prone areas) to safer, more-sustainable locations.

Managed retreat aims to reduce long-term exposure to danger instead of relying indefinitely on physical barriers like seawalls and levees, which are costly, require constant maintenance, and can give communities a false sense of security before they inevitably fail—managed retreat. The methods enabled threatened natural habitats, such as wetlands and dunes, to migrate inland and act as natural buffers.

Despite its practical benefits, managed retreat is incredibly complex and often faces strong resistance. People have deep—even existential—ties to their homes, communities, and livelihoods. Historically, poorly planned relocations have displaced marginalized and/or Indigenous populations. Furthermore, without meticulous planning, displaced communities can place undue pressure on the housing and land markets in inland reception areas. Executing a retreat requires long-term planning, large-scale financial backing for buyouts, and coordination between central and subnational organs of the state.

A Managed Retreat Toolkit helps guide planners and policymakers to balance ecological needs with justice within the jurisdiction of the USA. In addition, core universal principles for any properly managed and lawful resettlement include meaningfully applying the integral safeguards of General Comment No. 7, prohibiting, preventing and remedying forced eviction.

(See also Displacement, resettlement, evacuation, eviction, forced eviction.)