Method for integrated coastal climate change vulnerability assessment

Ricci, Glenn; Robadue, Donald; Rubinoff, Pam; Casey, Alanna; Babson, Amanda

Many of the National Park Service (NPS) coastal parks are at risk to climate change. To quickly gain a deeper understanding of how parks are vulnerable across their natural resources, cultural resources, and facilities, an integrated climate change vulnerability assessment led by division leaders and drawing upon readily available information is recommended as a practical starting point. The goals of a rapid assessment are to help park managers identify priority vulnerable resources/assets to inform their adaptation planning processes and justify near term funding requirements. Managers will also be able to inform investment prioritization for resources that are highly vulnerable but have a low ability to be conserved or to adapt. Highlights of the method tested and described in this report include: • Incorporating different divisions that have their own terminology, concepts, mandates, and priorities. To balance the need for integrating across divisions and have a means to apply across divergent sites, this method is detailed, yet flexible to be responsive to the needs of each park. • Focusing on comparing vulnerability across the resources managed by each division at a site. The method is not intended to compare relative vulnerability between different parks. Instead, the focus remains on the relative vulnerability of different resources and assets across an individual park to address the unique context for a park and its staff. • Applying existing data and expert knowledge of staff and partners. This enables the assessment to be done relatively quickly, using the best available science based on local understanding of the complexities and management needs of a place. • Ensuring a high degree of participation within and outside of the NPS by engaging key stakeholder groups for each park. It cannot be overstated how valuable the social process is to the method, especially for working across divisions. The vulnerability assessment is organized into nine steps – beginning with the identification of resources and climate projections for three time periods followed by analysis of vulnerability and integration across priority issues. Workgroups for natural resources, cultural resources, and facilities are established to gather the necessary expertise. Most of the scoring of exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity, as well as integration across divisions, happens at three workshops, each 1.5 days in length. At the conclusion of the vulnerability assessment, the following products are produced: • Vulnerability Assessment Report: A detailed assessment report is produced for the park. It summarizes the method and results, provides recommendations for next steps, and includes the raw data in the appendices. • GIS (Geographic Information System) Database: All data is given to the park’s GIS manager for record keeping and uploading to the system. There is the option to share the information layers provided in an online map viewer during the workshop process with the general public and partners in the assessment.

Method for integrated coastal climate change vulnerability assessment

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