Transdisciplinary Cooperation for Dune Management Between Coastal Managers and Communities Along the Oregon Coast

Keywords: Oregon Coast, Market Driven Valuation, Non-market Valuation, Dunes, Dune Management, Transdisciplinary, Management, Social Science
Abstract Type: Poster Abstract

Abstract

The recognition and role of transdisciplinary research and cooperation between social science researchers, coastal managers, and coastal community members is vital to produce successful long-term outcomes of dune management strategies within communities directly affected by the deliverables of coastal management plans. Prior research has indicated that “broad-band” approaches to generalize communities’ needs to fit coastal dune management plans is less effective than detailing the management plans to fit specific community values and perspectives. However, a refined methodology to intake these parameters for several communities along a dune-dominated coastal zone for regional management planning isn’t well understood. Therefore, identifying and implementing community and science driven adaptation approaches to dune management can produce increasingly equitable outcomes for the coastal environment as well as creating empowered coastal communities who have a larger stake in the health of coastal dunes. To achieve this, this research aims to develop market driven and non-market driven valuation strategies for six communities along the Oregon Coast to identify key drivers of community and resource management specialists’ perceptions, values, and actions in response to dune management strategies. Using a variety of methods (e.g., survey instrument, focus group, and individual interviews), this study will seek to identify similarities and differences between coastal residents and managers’ knowledge of dune management strategies. Furthermore, spatial analysis of current dune management strategies will be completed to identify spatial relationships between strategies and residential characteristics. Therefore, gaps in management plans can be identified to create more realistic deliverables for both dune managers and coastal communities.