Incorporating cyclone risk in the design of marine protected and conserved areas as an ecosystem-based adaptation approach.

ABSTRACT: Marine protected and conserved areas (MPCAs) are promoted as an ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) approach to increase community and ecosystem resilience to climate change. However, traditional approaches to MPCA design typically do not consider climate risk or habitat condition under a climate threat. We used the Great Sea Reef (GSR) in Fiji as a case study to develop a land-sea prioritization framework that links modeled sediment runoff from rainfall during extreme cyclone events to the probability of coral reefs being in good condition. We incorporated this information in an MPCA prioritization scenario intending to achieve 90% certainty of good-condition coral cover under cyclone risk while minimizing cost to fishers and meeting ecosystem conservation targets. We explored the trade-offs

SUBMITTER: Giffin AL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12309639 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature