Nature's Protective Ways - NYTimes.com Re "Learning to Bounce Back," by Andrew Zolli (Op-Ed, nytimes.com, Nov. 3): In a post-Hurricane-Sandy, post-Hurricane-Irene world, it's time to embrace nature's protective and beneficial side. As Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo of New York said, we must "rebuild smarter." Creating resilient coastal communities will require cost-effective investments in natural infrastructure, like restoring wetlands and preserving natural lands in low-lying coastal zones. Let's let nature do its job so that healthy coastal systems - wetlands, beaches, dunes and barrier islands - can provide vital benefits not just during storms but as a part of the day-to-day quality of life of people in the coastal zone. Let's continue to study wetlands and explore ways to keep them healthy and resilient to storm surge and sea level rise. Let's actively protect wetland parcels and other areas upland of the coastal zone so that when seas do rise, our communities have a chance to withstand the flooding. There is no single solution to how to prepare for the next storm, but making sure that all options, both natural and built, are on the table is an essential first step to a safer, more resilient future. NANCY KELLEY Executive Director Nature Conservancy on Long Island East Hampton, N.Y., Nov. 7, 2012