Coastal Resilience in Alaska
Channel: eesionline
Date: 21/04/2020

More information at: https://www.eesi.org/briefings/view/042120alaska

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) held a briefing on scientific developments and policy initiatives that are helping protect Alaskan ecosystems and communities from erosion, sea level rise, and other coastal hazards. Alaska coastal communities are experiencing extreme challenges as shore-fast ice—a coastal buffer to storm water—disappears and houses built on thawing permafrost buckle and become uninhabitable. Stakeholder engagement combined with up-to-date scientific analyses on environmental risk are necessary to create adaptation plans that make economic sense while assisting vulnerable communities.


Speakers: 

Jeremy Littell
Research Ecologist (Climate Impacts), Department of Interior Alaska Climate Adaptation Science Center
Download Slides: https://www.eesi.org/files/Jeremy_Littell_042120.pdf
Skip to presentation: https://youtu.be/0vyypQFEut4?t=4m23s

Raymond Paddock III
Environmental Planner, Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska
Download Slides: https://www.eesi.org/files/Raymond_Paddock_042120.pdf
Skip to presentation: https://youtu.be/0vyypQFEut4?t=24m37s

Aaron Poe
Coordinator, Aleutian Bering Sea Initiative
Download Slides: https://www.eesi.org/files/Aaron_Poe_042120.pdf
Skip to presentation: https://youtu.be/0vyypQFEut4?t=36m51s

The panelists described the collaborative process between federal, state, local, and tribal stakeholders in collecting, sharing, and acting on scientific data to inform policy decisions around adaptation and help communities define and achieve their resilience goals. These projects can serve as a model for other regions experiencing similar issues in high-latitude or coastal areas.

Dr. Littell discussed the changing Alaskan coastline, as well as topographic and other mapping data necessary to understand current risks and vulnerabilities along Alaska’s coast.

Mr. Paddock described the process of collecting base-level data and carrying out adaptation planning within tribal communities in Southeast Alaska. He further highlighted the damage warming waters are having on traditional food sources and ways of life.

Mr. Poe discussed his work engaging agencies, tribes, researchers, industries, and communities to plan for adaptation at the regional scale through the Landscape Conservation Cooperatives (LCCs) that were originally established by the Department of the Interior but now operate as public-private partnerships.

Coastal Alaska is facing rapid warming and corresponding environmental changes. This briefing provided an overview of the area’s environmental challenges; gave specific examples of projects that protect homes, ecosystems, and economies; and showcased the legislation, regulations, and programs that help (or hinder) those projects’ success.