We reviewed a project to assess the impact of climate change on coastal wetlands and their associated communities. The lead agency for this project was the EPA. This project’s scope centered around the potential effects of rising sea levels and increased storm frequency on the ecological health of wetlands and the livelihoods of communities dependent on these ecosystems. This review delivered high-level, multidisciplinary guidance.
Special consultations were conducted with local environmental agencies, coastal management experts, and community leaders to ensure that the data collected were accurate and relevant to both ecological and human factors. Additionally, permits were obtained to access sensitive wetland areas for field studies and to use private environmental data, ensuring compliance with both environmental regulations and privacy laws.
We helped the team gather and analyze various data, including geographic information on wetland locations, sea level rise projections, storm surge models, biodiversity indices, and socioeconomic data for nearby communities. We also helped to create comprehensive maps and models depicting the potential impacts of climate change on coastal wetlands and adjacent human populations.
The hypothesis driving this project was that rising sea levels and increased storm intensity would lead to significant degradation of coastal wetlands, adversely affecting biodiversity and increasing the vulnerability of nearby human populations. Using GIS tools, we conducted a spatial analysis to overlay sea level rise projections and storm surge models with wetland maps and community data. This analysis helped to identify areas at high risk of wetland loss and community exposure to environmental hazards.
The project’s findings revealed that several wetlands are highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, with potential consequences for biodiversity and local economies. These insights have allowed researchers to prioritize regions for conservation efforts and implement adaptive management strategies. We also assisted in creating communication strategies to effectively convey these risks and strategies to the public, ensuring transparency and fostering community buy-in. We ensured that the project provided insights that helped stakeholders proactively plan for climate impacts. This proactive planning has reduced potential economic losses and preserved critical ecosystems for future generations.