Key lessons for incorporating natural infrastructure into regional climate adaptation planning

Langridge, Suzanne; Hartge, Eric; Clark, Ross; Arkema, Katie K.; Verutes, Gregory; Prahler, Erin; Stoner-Duncan, Sarah; Revell, David L.; Caldwell, Margaret R.; Guerry, Anne D.; Ruckelshaus, Mary; Abeles, Adina; Coburn, Chris T.; O’Connor, Kevin

doi:10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2014.03.019

Cited by 36 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…The transparency of modeled inputs and outputs, and the ability to quickly test different climate and development scenarios make the InVEST Coastal Vulnerability model an effective tool to engage with stakeholders and communicate with scientists and non-scientists alike (Arkema et al, 2013;Langridge et al, 2014;Hopper et al, 2016;Cabral et al, 2017; Office of the Prime Minister of The Bahamas [OPM], 2017). However, there are also several important limitations with the approach.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To estimate risk from coastal hazards to people throughout The Bahamas now and with future SLR, we used the InVEST Coastal Vulnerability model. The Coastal Vulnerability model is a decision support tool that uses an index-based approach to understand the relative risk of communities to coastal hazards and identifies where habitats have the greatest potential for providing coastal protection (Arkema et al, 2013;Langridge et al, 2014;Hopper et al, 2016;Cabral et al, 2017;Sharp et al, 2018). The model builds on previous, similar indices that account for biophysical and climatic components governing exposure to flooding and inundation from coastal hazards (e.g., Gornitz, 1990;Cooper and McLaughlin, 1998;Hammar-Klose and Thieler, 2001), by explicitly considering the role of ecosystems in providing coastal protection and incorporating information about people, property and other relevant metrics in the framing of risk.…”

Section: Modeling Coastal Hazardmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Advancing Coastal Risk Reduction Science and Implementation by Accounting for Climate, Ecosystems, and People

et al. 2019

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Climate change and population growth are degrading coastal ecosystems and increasing risks to communities and infrastructure. Reliance on seawalls and other types of hardened shorelines is unsustainable in an era of rising seas, given the costs to build and maintain these structures and their unintended consequences on ecosystems. This is especially true for communities that depend on coastal and marine ecosystems for livelihoods and sustenance. Protecting and restoring coral reefs and coastal forests can be lower cost, sustainable alternatives for shoreline protection. However, decision-makers often lack basic information about where and under what conditions ecosystems reduce risk to coastal hazards and who would benefit. To better understand where to prioritize ecosystems for coastal protection, we assessed risk reduction provided by coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrass along the entire coast of The Bahamas, under current and future climate scenarios. Modeled results show that the population most exposed to coastal hazards would more than double with future sea-level rise and more than triple if ecosystems were lost or degraded. We also found that ecosystem-based risk reduction differs across islands due to variation in a suite of ecological, physical, and social variables. On some populated islands, like Grand Bahama and Abaco, habitats provide protection to disproportionately large numbers of people compared to the rest of the country. Risk reduction provided by ecosystems is also evident for several sparsely populated, remote coastal communities, which in some cases, have large elderly populations. The results from our analyses were critical for engaging policy-makers in discussions about employing natural and nature-based features for coastal resilience. After hurricanes Joaquin and Matthew hit The Bahamas in 2016 and 2017, our assessment of coastal risk reduction and the multiple benefits provided by coastal ecosystems helped pave the way for an innovative loan from the Inter-American Development Bank to the Government of The Bahamas

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Modeling Coastal Hazardmentioning

confidence: 99%

Advancing Coastal Risk Reduction Science and Implementation by Accounting for Climate, Ecosystems, and People

et al. 2019

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“…This approach computed the relative exposure of the shoreline to coastal hazards (Fig. A) on the basis of a number of variables, including elevation, wave exposure, shoreline type, sea‐level rise, storm surge potential, and habitat buffers . Next, we coupled the results from the hazard index with census information on the distribution of total population (shown in Fig.…”

Section: Case Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…4A) on the basis of a number of variables, including elevation, wave exposure, shoreline type, sea-level rise, storm surge potential, and habitat buffers. 103,168 Next, we coupled the results from the hazard index with census information on the distribution of total population (shown in Fig. 4), elderly (>65 years) and young (<15 years) people, and total income to assess the risk of coastal hazards to people and livelihoods currently and under four future scenarios.…”

Section: Sustainable Development In the Bahamasmentioning

confidence: 99%

Linking social, ecological, and physical science to advance natural and nature‐based protection for coastal communities

Arkema

Griffin

Maldonado

et al. 2017

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences

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130

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Interest in the role that ecosystems play in reducing the impacts of coastal hazards has grown dramatically. Yet the magnitude and nature of their effects are highly context dependent, making it difficult to know under what conditions coastal habitats, such as saltmarshes, reefs, and forests, are likely to be effective for saving lives and protecting property. We operationalize the concept of natural and nature-based solutions for coastal protection by adopting an ecosystem services framework that propagates the outcome of a management action through ecosystems to societal benefits. We review the literature on the basis of the steps in this framework, considering not only the supply of coastal protection provided by ecosystems but also the demand for protective services from beneficiaries. We recommend further attention to (1) biophysical processes beyond wave attenuation, (2) the combined effects of multiple habitat types (e.g., reefs, vegetation), (3) marginal values and expected damage functions, and, in particular, (4) community dependence on ecosystems for coastal protection and co-benefits. We apply our approach to two case studies to illustrate how estimates of multiple benefits and losses can inform restoration and development decisions. Finally, we discuss frontiers for linking social, ecological, and physical science to advance natural and nature-based solutions to coastal protection.

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“…In the Monterey Bay Region, the Center's approach is to utilize the Iterative Process between technical experts and decision makers to produce boundary objects (i.e., models, scenarios, and assessment reports produced jointly by experts and decision makers) that ensure successful adaptation planning at a local level [4]. The Iterative Process-refined based on lessons learned from similar local-level engagements in California [5]-consists of working alongside decision makers in the study area to co-develop and tailor the Center's analytics through each phase of the Engagement Framework to ensure that the Center's research is applicable to decision-making needs. The Iterative Process is also designed to span each phase of the Engagement Framework in order to address the key attributes of a boundary organization's function: credible, legitimate, and salient information [4].…”

Section: Iterative Process For Engagement At the Local Levelmentioning

confidence: 99%

Climate Adaptation Planning in the Monterey Bay Region: An Iterative Spatial Framework for Engagement at the Local Level

Reiter¹,

Wedding

Hartge³

et al. 2015

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The Monterey Bay Region benefits from science-based adaptation planning that places value on a healthy social-ecological ecosystem. We co-developed a methodological engagement framework to support an iterative place-based process among natural resource managers, the planning community, and the community of technical experts (e.g., economists, scientists, lawyers). In collaboration with local decision makers, we are evaluating the effects of adaptation strategies on ecosystem services provided by natural dune and wetland systems to inform decision making at the local government level. Here, we present the Center for Ocean Solutions' transferable engagement framework designed to evaluate viable climate adaptation planning alternatives using spatial analysis and data visualization techniques.

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Key lessons for incorporating natural infrastructure into regional climate adaptation planning

Cited by 36 publications

References 26 publications

Advancing Coastal Risk Reduction Science and Implementation by Accounting for Climate, Ecosystems, and People

Advancing Coastal Risk Reduction Science and Implementation by Accounting for Climate, Ecosystems, and People

Linking social, ecological, and physical science to advance natural and nature‐based protection for coastal communities

Climate Adaptation Planning in the Monterey Bay Region: An Iterative Spatial Framework for Engagement at the Local Level

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