Coastal Communities combat Climate Change

Through the implementation of an innovative tool to assess and enhance communication and partnership building among local stakeholders, the establishment of communities that are more resilient to impacts from climate change is expected. The communities are actively engaging in the identification of activities to reduce vulnerability to climate change, with the derived benefits to the GMWR. It is expected that the communities continue engaged in the implementation of the jointly identified conservation actions and remain committed to keeping new partnerships alive. Thus, ensuring that social capital is built into buffer zone management strategies can offer an inspiring solution not only for biodiversity but also for the livelihoods and recognition of the knowledge held by local communities. This in turn becomes a means to build resiliency to climate change in coastal communities and ecosystems. The tool developed for GMWR offers a basis for good practice in designing participatory management strategies for other protected areas / buffer zones, as it allows for environmental solutions that are better suited to the institutional, social and ecological connectivity needs, and realities, of each protected area.