The emerging threats of climate change on tropical coastal ecosystem services, public health, local economies and livelihood sustainability of small islands: Cumulative impacts and synergies

Abstract

Climate change has significantly impacted tropical ecosystems critical for sustaining local economies and community livelihoods at global scales. Coastal ecosystems have largely declined, threatening the principal source of protein, building materials, tourism-based revenue, and the first line of defense against storm swells and sea level rise (SLR) for small tropical islands. Climate change has also impacted public health (i.e., altered distribution and increased prevalence of allergies, water-borne, and vector-borne diseases). Rapid human population growth has exacerbated pressure over coupled social-ecological systems, with concomitant non-sustainable impacts on natural resources, water availability, food security and sovereignty, public health, and quality of life, which should increase vulnerability and erode adaptation and mitigation capacity. This paper examines cumulative and synergistic impacts of climate change in the challenging context of highly vulnerable small tropical islands. Multiple adaptive strategies of coupled social-ecological ecosystems are discussed. Multi-level, multi-sectorial responses are necessary for adaptation to be successful.

Effects of Changing Weather, Oceanographic Conditions, and Land Uses on Spatio-Temporal Variation of Sedimentation Dynamics along Near-Shore Coral Reefs

“…The threats associated to unsustainable development of coastal watersheds are prompted by the increasing trend of urban expansion, deforestation, and exposure of bare soil, that increases the potential of soil erosion and sediment-laden runoff during pulse rainfall episodes (López et al, 1998;Fu et al, 2010;Ramos-Scharrón et al, 2012, 2015. Other persistent threats are caused by tourism-related activities at sensitive areas and steep slopes which are highly prone to erosion (Nemeth and Sladek, 2001;Hernández-Delgado et al, 2012, 2014a.…”

“…Nevertheless, live coral cover decline and coral reef habitat degradation have been documented in the Caribbean region during recent decades (Gardner et al, 2003;Wilkinson and Souter, 2008;Hughes et al, 2010;Jackson et al, 2014). Coral reef degradation has been mainly attributed to a combination of cumulative and synergistic effects from diverse human-induced stressors, including global climate change (Hughes, 1994;Wild et al, 2011;Hernández-Delgado, 2015). Coastal sediment fluxes produced by sediment-laden runoff have been identified as one of the primary causes of coral reef habitat degradation (Rogers, 1990).…”

Coral Reef Resilience Index for Novel Ecosystems: A Spatial Planning Tool for Managers and Decision Makers - A Case Study from Puerto Rico

“…A climate change adaptation program must also be implemented focused on the sustainable adaptability of coupled social-ecological systems, on the sustainability of the ecosystem services provided by the first line of defense against storm swells (e.g., coral reefs and mangroves) and on fishery sustainable adaptability [93]. The implementation of alternative livelihood programs for displaced fishers and an improved effectiveness in the management of no-take MPAs through consistent enforcement, sustainable funding, and technical capacity building is also paramount.…”

“…Government agencies also need to establish effective partnerships with the academia, NGOs, and the private sector to promote applied research aimed at responding to managementoriented research questions regarding emergent novel coral reef ecosystems, which are characterized by altered benthic and fish assemblages as a result of multiple human impacts. Also, in a moment of complex and profound socioeconomic crisis, it is pivotal that governments need to promote and adopt sustainable consumption guidelines for marine resources; protect vulnerable coastal habitats, watersheds, and water sources; and secure food security and sovereignty [93]. Local governments should establish effective mechanisms, such as green taxes, to enhance available funding to support MPA management, coral farming, reef rehabilitation, and sustainable natural resource-based recreation.…”

Quantifying the environmental impact of pollutant plumes from coastal rivers with remote sensing and river basin modelling

“…There are serious impacts to the environment and human well-being of pollutant loading to coastal waters, including coral reef die-back due to sediment clogging [6], fishery collapse due to hypoxia [7] and human sickness due to harmful algae blooms [8]. Climate change is predicted to worsen these problems and lead to greater discharges and disease exposure [9,10].…”