Integrating climate and ocean change vulnerability into conservation planning

Authors

Elizabeth Mcleod, The Nature Conservancy, USA
Alison Green, University of Plymouth
Edward Game, University Of Queensland
Kenneth Anthony, Australian Institute of Marine Science
Joshua Cinner, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies
Scott F. Heron, National Oceanic Atmospheric Assocation
Joanie Kleypas, National Center for Atmospheric Research
Catherine E. Lovelock, University of Queensland
John M. Pandolfi, University Of Queensland
Robert L. Pressey, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies
Rodney Salm, The Nature Conservancy, USA
Steve Schill, The Nature Conservancy, USA
Colin Woodroffe, University of WollongongFollow

RIS ID

71292

Publication Details

Mcleod, E., Green, A., Game, E., Anthony, K., Cinner, J., Heron, S. F., Kleypas, J., Lovelock, C. E., Pandolfi, J. M., Pressey, R. L.., Salm, R., Schill, S. & Woodroffe, C. (2012). Integrating climate and ocean change vulnerability into conservation planning. Coastal Management, 40 (6), 651-672.

Abstract

Tropical coastal and marine ecosystems are particularly vulnerable to ocean warming, ocean acidification, and sea-level rise. Yet these projected climate and ocean change impacts are rarely considered in conservation planning due to the lack of guidance on how existing climate and ocean change models, tools, and data can be applied. Here, we address this gap by describing how conservation planning can use available tools and data for assessing the vulnerability of tropical marine ecosystems to key climate threats. Additionally, we identify limitations of existing tools and provide recommendations for future research to improve integration of climate and ocean change information and conservation planning. Such information is critical for developing a conservation response that adequately protects these ecosystems and dependent coastal communities in the face of climate and ocean change.