Implementing adaptive management into a climate change adaptation strategy for a drowning New England salt marsh

Authors

Danielle C. Perry
Caitlin Chaffee
Cathleen Wigand
Carol S. Thornber, University of Rhode IslandFollow

Document Type

Article

Date of Original Version

6-20-2020

Department

Natural Resources Science

Abstract

Due to climate change and other anthropogenic stressors, future conditions and impacts facing coastal habitats are unclear to coastal resource managers. Adaptive management strategies have become an important tactic to compensate for the unknown environmental conditions that coastal managers and restoration ecologists face. Adaptive management requires extensive planning and resources, which can act as barriers to achieve a successful project. These barriers also create challenges in incorporating adaptive management into climate change adaptation strategies. This case study describes and analyzes the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council's approach to overcome these challenges to implement a successful adaptive management project to restore a drowning salt marsh using the climate change adaptation strategy, sediment enhancement, at Quonochontaug Pond in Charlestown, RI. Through effective communication and active stakeholder involvement, this project successfully incorporated interdisciplinary partner and stakeholder collaborations and developed an iterative learning strategy that highlights the adaptive management method.

Citation/Publisher Attribution

Perry DC, Chaffee C, Wigand C, Thornber C. Implementing adaptive management into a climate change adaptation strategy for a drowning New England salt marsh. J Environ Manage. 2020 Sep 15;270:110928. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.110928. Epub 2020 Jun 20.