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Ecosystem-Based Adaptation to Climate Change in Caribbean Small Island Developing States: Integrating Local and External Knowledge

Author

Listed:
  • Jessica Mercer

    (33 Gravel Close, Downton, Salisbury, SP5 3JQ Wiltshire, UK)

  • Ilan Kelman

    (Center for International Climate and Environmental Research (CICERO), P.O. Box 1129, Blindern, N-0138 Oslo, Norway)

  • Björn Alfthan

    (UNEP/GRID-Arendal, Postboks 183, N-4802 Arendal, Norway)

  • Tiina Kurvits

    (UNEP/GRID-Arendal, 360 Albert Street, Suite 1710, Ottawa, ON K1R 7X7, Canada)

Abstract

Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are vulnerable to climate change impacts including sea level rise, invasive species, ocean acidification, changes in rainfall patterns, increased temperatures, and changing hazard regimes including hurricanes, floods and drought. Given high dependencies in Caribbean SIDS on natural resources for livelihoods, a focus on ecosystems and their interaction with people is essential for climate change adaptation. Increasingly, ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) approaches are being highlighted as an approach to address climate change impacts. Specifically, EbA encourages the use of local and external knowledge about ecosystems to identify climate change adaptation approaches. This paper critically reviews EbA in Caribbean SIDS, focusing on the need to integrate local and external knowledge. An analysis of current EbA in the Caribbean is undertaken alongside a review of methodologies used to integrate local and external expertise for EbA. Finally key gaps, lessons learnt and suggested ways forward for EbA in Caribbean SIDS and potentially further afield are identified.

Suggested Citation

  • Jessica Mercer & Ilan Kelman & Björn Alfthan & Tiina Kurvits, 2012. "Ecosystem-Based Adaptation to Climate Change in Caribbean Small Island Developing States: Integrating Local and External Knowledge," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 4(8), pages 1-25, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:4:y:2012:i:8:p:1908-1932:d:19606
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    Cited by:

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    2. Beate M.W. Ratter & Jan Petzold & Kamardine Sinane, 2016. "Considering the locals: coastal construction and destruction in times of climate change on Anjouan, Comoros," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 40(3), pages 112-126, August.
    3. Jessica Mercer & Tiina Kurvits & Ilan Kelman & Stavros Mavrogenis, 2014. "Ecosystem-Based Adaptation for Food Security in the AIMS SIDS: Integrating External and Local Knowledge," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 6(9), pages 1-32, August.
    4. Simon Merschroth & Alessio Miatto & Steffi Weyand & Hiroki Tanikawa & Liselotte Schebek, 2020. "Lost Material Stock in Buildings due to Sea Level Rise from Global Warming: The Case of Fiji Islands," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-19, January.
    5. Lesly Cassin & Paolo Melindi-Ghidi & Fabien Prieur, 2020. "Confronting climate change: Adaptation vs. migration strategies in Small Island Developing States," Working Papers hal-02515116, HAL.
    6. Shah Md. Atiqul Haq & Khandaker Jafor Ahmed, 2017. "Does the perception of climate change vary with the socio-demographic dimensions? A study on vulnerable populations in Bangladesh," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 85(3), pages 1759-1785, February.
    7. Nazmul Huq & Antje Bruns & Lars Ribbe & Saleemul Huq, 2017. "Mainstreaming Ecosystem Services Based Climate Change Adaptation (EbA) in Bangladesh: Status, Challenges and Opportunities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(6), pages 1-20, June.
    8. Robert Šakić Trogrlić & Grant B. Wright & Melanie J. Duncan & Marc J. C. van den Homberg & Adebayo J. Adeloye & Faidess D. Mwale & Joyce Mwafulirwa, 2019. "Characterising Local Knowledge across the Flood Risk Management Cycle: A Case Study of Southern Malawi," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-23, March.
    9. Anita Milman & Kripa Jagannathan, 2017. "Conceptualization and implementation of ecosystems-based adaptation," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 142(1), pages 113-127, May.
    10. Rebecca Jo Stormes Newman & Claudia Capitani & Colin Courtney-Mustaphi & Jessica Paula Rose Thorn & Rebecca Kariuki & Charis Enns & Robert Marchant, 2020. "Integrating Insights from Social-Ecological Interactions into Sustainable Land Use Change Scenarios for Small Islands in the Western Indian Ocean," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-22, February.
    11. Stephen Woroniecki, 2019. "Enabling Environments? Examining Social Co-Benefits of Ecosystem-Based Adaptation to Climate Change in Sri Lanka," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-20, February.
    12. Jonathan Lashley & Koko Warner, 2015. "Evidence of demand for microinsurance for coping and adaptation to weather extremes in the Caribbean," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 133(1), pages 101-112, November.
    13. Clinton Beckford, 2018. "Climate change resiliency in Caribbean SIDS: building greater synergies between science and local and traditional knowledge," Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, Springer;Association of Environmental Studies and Sciences, vol. 8(1), pages 42-50, March.
    14. Xiaoyu Liu & Jahan Ara Peerally & Claudia De Fuentes & David Ince & Harrie Vredenburg, 2022. "Who Makes or Breaks Energy Policymaking in the Caribbean Small Island Jurisdictions? A Study of Stakeholders’ Perceptions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-19, February.
    15. Nazmul Huq & Alexander Stubbings, 2015. "How is the Role of Ecosystem Services Considered in Local Level Flood Management Policies: Case Study in Cumbria, England," Journal of Environmental Assessment Policy and Management (JEAPM), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 17(04), pages 1-29, December.
    16. Atiek Widayati & Bastiaan Louman & Elok Mulyoutami & Edi Purwanto & Koen Kusters & Roderick Zagt, 2021. "Communities’ Adaptation and Vulnerability to Climate Change: Implications for Achieving a Climate-Smart Landscape," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-20, August.
    17. Lisa Hiwasaki & Emmanuel Luna & Syamsidik & José Marçal, 2015. "Local and indigenous knowledge on climate-related hazards of coastal and small island communities in Southeast Asia," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 128(1), pages 35-56, January.
    18. Zhang, Dayong & Managi, Shunsuke, 2020. "Financial development, natural disasters, and economics of the Pacific small island states," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 168-181.
    19. Stacy-ann Robinson, 2017. "Climate change adaptation trends in small island developing states," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 22(4), pages 669-691, April.

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