Congratulations to Professor Terry Sunderland for receiving $1,500,000 in research funding from the New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF) through the 2023 International Joint Initiative for Research in Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Competition.
About CoastMan
Coastal Mangroves in Eastern and Western Africa offer coastal communities much-needed ecosystem services and protection against key climate change risks, including risks to low-lying coastal-ecological systems, risks to terrestrial and ocean ecosystems, and as a result, risks to food security. Coastal communities are particularly vulnerable to climate change impacts because of
- their location being highly exposed to sea level rise and erosion,
- poor socio-economic conditions, and
- their high dependence on mangrove ecosystems. Coastal Mangroves however are highly threatened both by anthropogenic and climate change pressures.
The main objective of the project (CoastMan) is co-production and uptake of a Multi-Criteria Decision Support System (DSS) that provides vulnerable communities and decision-makers a knowledge-based decision-making capacity for the restoration and conservation of socio-ecological systems. An interdisciplinary and trans-sectoral team is established from researchers and stakeholders from across three continents (America, Europe, and Africa), in partnership with vulnerable groups to co-develop and uptake a DSS to promote mitigation and strategies that enhance the adaptive capacities of the mangrove socio-ecological systems in Eastern and Western Africa. Drawing on quantitative and qualitative data from extensive field research in coastal Tanzania and Ghana, extensive literature, and remote sensing, the project will:
- co-develop dynamic maps of drivers and risks of mangrove habitat loss,
- support locally-led social-ecological and climate resilience through coordinated management of mangrove resources,
- co-develop sustainable livelihood strategies for coastal communities,
- co-design a novel multicriteria framework for mangrove restoration and conservation, and
- co-develop a novel DSS for mangrove socio-ecological systems.
We devised a co-production and dissemination strategy so that project outputs will assist in identifying mitigation strategies and enhancing adaptive capacities of the frontline coastal communities, including building their capacity needs in designing climate actions such as restoration and conservation of mangrove ecosystems. Furthermore, the project will lead to improved knowledge and capacity of partner institutions through supporting early career researchers and promoting strengthened collaboration between partners and vulnerable coastal mangrove-dependent communities.
About Terry‘s Research
As a Professor in the Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, Terry’s work is focused on applied research, biodiversity conservation sustainable resource management and linkages to levering policy influence.
Through the Co-developing Decision Support System for Coastal Mangrovebased Socio-ecological Systems in Eastern and Western Africa (CoastMan) project, Terry explores the essential ecosystem services and climate change protection that Coastal Mangroves provide to communities in Eastern and Western Africa. The main objective is co-production and uptake of a Multi-Criteria Decision Support System (DSS) that provides vulnerable coastal mangrove-dependent communities and decision-makers a knowledge-based decision-making capacity for the restoration and conservation of socio-ecological systems.
About the New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF)
The New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF) supports world-leading interdisciplinary, international, high-risk/high-reward, transformative and rapid-response Canadian-led research. Within the program, the International stream enhances opportunities for Canadian researchers to partner on international projects.
The 2023 International Joint Initiative for Research in Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Competition is a collaborative funding opportunity designed to support international research projects addressing climate change adaptation and mitigation.
Co-Principal Investigators: Morel, Alexandra (University of Dundee) van Blerk, Lorraine (University of Dundee) Zeleke, Belachew (Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research NIBIO) (View all team members)
Co-Applicants: Aheto, Denis (Centre for Coastal Management – ACECoR, University of Cape Coast) Alem, Habtamu (Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research NIBIO) Alemu, Diress (Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research) Bayr, Ulrike (Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research NIBIO) Debella-Gilo, Misganu (NMBU) Jilala, Zawadi (CBO Community Based Organisation) Rizzi, Jonathan (NIBIO – Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research) Salim, Suleiman (Community Forest Management Agreement/Area for Mtambwe Kusini and Shumba Mjini Shehia-Pemba, Zanzibar) Seki, Hamidu (Mkwawa University College of Education) Shirima, Deo (Sokoine University of Agriculture) Sumaila, U. Rashid (Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries / School of Public Policy and Global Affairs – The University of British Columbia)
International Co-funding Partners: The Research Council of Norway, UK Research and Innovation
