Coastal Climate Change Adaptation – A SIDS Education ImperativeDr Lorna V. Inniss - BARBADOS

Presentation Anatomy -CCA

A Barbados model for coastal CCA that:• Protects the natural lines of defense • Enforces coastal planning and policy

regimes• Addresses sea level-related hazards• Conducts effective shoreline stabilization• Addresses data and information needs

Presentation Anatomy - Education

• Improvement of relationship with oceans and coasts

• Education for coastal planning• Involvement in ecosystem conservation• Shoreline stabilization and coastal hazards• Teacher training and course development• Location and structure of schools and

other critical buildings

Why the Barbados Model?

We heard yesterday that one size does NOT fit all, BUT this model has overcome many of the challenges discussed:

• The human dimension• The political dimension • The messages that appeal• Everyone involved in the solution• Sustainable financing for ICZM/CCA

The Human Dimension

• There is no higher calling for human beings than the saving of lives

• Work with people’s self interest, while achieving ICZM/CCA goals

• Knowledge is the first step to changing behavior

The Political Dimension

Informed policy makers translate to:• Sustained financing for ICZM & CCA• Fewer policy decisions with negative

impacts• Data and information requirements are

funded• Change in administration does not change

program support

Natural Lines of Defense

Coastal Hazards

• Marine and coastal ecosystems act as natural buffers to sea level-related hazards

• Loss of natural buffers turns natural events into human disasters

• “At least 70-90% of the energy from wind generated waves is absorbed depending on how healthy these ecosystems are and their physical and ecological characteristics” (UNESCO State of the World’s Oceans Report)

High South Coast Waves

Crane Beach Before

Crane Beach North

• Allow waves to dissipate 70-90% of their destructive energy offshore

• Area covered by:– Bank reefs – 15.9 km– Fringing reefs – 1.53 km

• Approx. 80% fringing reefs lost

• Bank reefs decreased from 37.3% - 23.2% over a decade

CORAL REEFS - NATURAL BR EAKWATERS

ANTHROPOGENIC STRESSORS

Anchor damage

Destructive fishingHarvesting for sale

Tourism pressure

Land based sourcesof marine pollution

Mangroves - Natural Shock Absorbers

• Buffers

• Limit floodwater inundation

• Mangroves covered almost our entire coastline

• Destroyed approx. 95%

• Primarily via coastal construction

Replaced by

RUBBLE, SEA GRASS

• Not much help in a major disaster…

BUT

• can offer some protection against wave action

HEALTHY ECOSYSTEMS

SAVE LIVES!

Coastal Planning

Coastal Land Use Planning

A permitting process based on a coastal zone management plan that:

• Imposes conditions on coastal infrastructure to protect both life and ecosystems

• Reduces economic vulnerability to sea level-related hazards

• Maintains recreational space for citizens and visitors

Coastal Zone Management Area

Not Enough to Influence the Message!!!• No more schools within the vulnerable

zone OR• Choose sites with lower vulnerability• Mangroves and/or other vegetation

between school and water• Maintain wide beaches fronting schools• Ensuring structural integrity of schools

DATA AND INFORMATION NEEDS FOR COASTAL CCA

Data Needs for Coastal CCA

• Marine meteorology • High resolution bathymetry• Offshore wave climate• Nearshore wave transformations• Beach profile measurements• Sediment transport mechanisms

Data Needs Continued

For conservation of natural lines of defense

• Ecosystem measurements • Water quality and discharge monitoring• Monitor human activities that will exacerbate

storm surge

Offshore Wave climate

Nearshore Wave Transformation

Beach Profile Measurements

What happens when Climate Change overwhelms us?

• Some emergency or long-term works to reduce wave energy

• Properly designed and modeled coastal engineering

• Make the solution as soft and unobtrusive as possible

Criteria for Execution

• Climate change is occurring FASTER than our ability to protect, plan and control

• Planning and legislative controls have failed• Natural lines of defense non-existent or in

poor health• Natural resilience of beaches is

compromised• Significant economic installations are

vulnerable

Shoreline Stabilization

• Numerical modeling to predict the behavior of the coast under varying oceanographic conditions

• Physical modeling of complex coastal solutions

• Building of structures within the coastal zone to stabilize the shoreline, control erosion, and protect infrastructure

Barbados Project - Nearshore Wave Modelling

• Simulations carried out using M21 NSW• A Two-Stage Modelling Process

– Coarse Grids (ΔX=20m ΔY=100m)– Nested Grids (ΔX=4m ΔY=20m)

Plan View of Barbados

Final Design Efforts

Physical Modeling

Construction

A C

B

Select Preferred Concept

Design Process

Select “Preferred” Concepts & Focus Final Design Efforts on Preferred Concepts

Final Design

Holetown Physical Model

Model Construction

Model Construction

Holetown Model / Prototype

Final Design

Rockley

Welches

Coastal CCA Education

• Challenge students and adults to learn about their coast – Waterworld

• Encourage involvement in data collection programs – SANDWATCH & BADASS

• Monthly coastal hikes with commentary• PROJECTS, PROJECTS. PROJECTS• Teacher training at academy level

Coastal Risk Assessment and Management Project• Build resilience to coastal hazards• Will incorporate CCA strategies into ICZM• DRR issues related to coastal hazards will

be addressed• Diagnostic studies will be repeated• Shoreline stabilization continues

“Education programmes and early warning systems will

significantly reduce the number of human casualties, but it will only be through careful coastal and land-use planning that the economic and social costs of

such disasters can be kept to a minimum”

Isabelle Louis, Director of WWF International’s Asia-Pacific Programme.

THANK YOU!!!Dr Lorna Inniss

CHAIR – Caribbean Tsunami and Coastal Hazards Warning System

Co-CHAIR – Standing Committee on Coastal Hazards

Deputy Director, Coastal Zone Mgt Unit, Barbados

Coordinator – Group of Experts for the Global Marine Assessment