Adaptation and Maladaptation Between Humans and Wetlands on the Coast

Keywords: sea level rise, vulnerability, wetlands, adaptation, maladaptation
Abstract Type: Paper Abstract

Abstract

Coastal regions are often mosaics of human development and fragmented wetlands. Coastal wetlands—one of the world’s most valuable ecosystems and facing global losses—are increasingly protected or created as nature-based solutions to sea level rise. Humans and wetlands could adapt to sea level rise and reduce their vulnerability under certain conditions. Given the patchwork configuration of coastal regions, how could adaptation to sea level rise by humans and wetlands interact? This research explores the ways that adaptations could interact positively by decreasing the vulnerability of both humans and wetlands (an adaptation synergy) or interact negatively by shifting vulnerabilities between them (a type of maladaptation). Using a systematic literature review and ecological modeling focused on US coasts, this research documents emerging human-wetland vulnerability interactions and exposes potential future interactions. These interactions span local to regional scales and may take decades to emerge. They operate between and across human and non-human actors on physical, economic, environmental, social, cultural, and institutional dimensions. They also raise questions of climate justice for both human and non-human communities. Because of these complex interactions, the findings support adaptation planning approaches that are cross-sectoral and cross-scalar in scope and phased over longer time periods.