Factsheet: Building Adaptive Capacity in a Coastal Region Experiencing Global Change
A case study in the coastal plain region of South Carolina
Dates
Publication Date
2020-08
Citation
Factsheet: Building Adaptive Capacity in a Coastal Region Experiencing Global Change: A Case Study in the Coastal Plain Region of South Carolina, 2020: Southeast CASC, U.S. Geological Survey.
Summary
Coastal ecosystems offer substantial natural benefits to local people and wildlife. They serve as protective buffers from storms and provide food, clean water, and recreational opportunities for humans as well as critical habitat for fish and wildlife. Many of these coastal areas also preserve a rich historical and cultural heritage. Coastal communities facing global change can help maintain or increase resiliency by improving the region’s adaptive capacity. Adaptive capacity is the ability to prepare for environmental and social stressors in advance, in a way that is responsive to constant change. The greater the adaptive capacity of a system, the more resilient it is to disturbances like sea-level rise, tropical storms, and economic [...]
Summary
Coastal ecosystems offer substantial natural benefits to local people and wildlife. They serve as protective buffers from storms and provide food, clean water, and recreational opportunities for humans as well as critical habitat for fish and wildlife. Many of these coastal areas also preserve a rich historical and cultural heritage. Coastal communities facing global change can help maintain or increase resiliency by improving the region’s adaptive capacity. Adaptive capacity is the ability to prepare for environmental and social stressors in advance, in a way that is responsive to constant change. The greater the adaptive capacity of a system, the more resilient it is to disturbances like sea-level rise, tropical storms, and economic downturns.
