Michelle Harangody

Ridge-to-reef for coastal food security in Palau StoryMap

Coastal resources, critical to economic and socio-cultural resilience across Pacific Islands, are threatened by management institutions that are not designed to account for land-sea connectivity. To ensure sustainable use, management institutions must consider the multiple values and complex processes of coastal resources in their decision making, including land and ocean interactions. This storymap examines how ridge-to-reef governance can enhance coastal food security in a changing climate.

Final Report: Examining how ridge-to-reef governance in Palau can enhance coastal food security in a changing climate

The people of the Republic of Palau rely on coasts for food, culture, and their economy. Stressors from land use change, sea-level rise, and warming oceans could threaten the food and livelihood security of many Palauans. Moreover, potential unintended consequences of conservation policies could increase pressures on already heavily exploited reef systems. Specifically, the recently implemented Palau National Marine Sanctuary (PNMS) closed 80% of Palau’s Exclusive Economic Zone to fishing. As offshore fish become more scarce in the domestic market, managers worry about increased harvesting pressure on already overfished nearshore resources. Adaptively managing stressors in an integrated way can cost-effectively...