Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment and Adaptation Planning ...

3.0 Conducting a Vulnerability AssessmentRank 1 2 3 4 5 SSensitivity factorsAdjacent coral reef resilience Very high High Moderate Low Very lowObura’s (2010) can be used, but reverse the resiliencescale score so that it refers to vulnerability. Record thescore in the final column (S = score).Strengths/weaknessesIf coral reefs are closely adjacent to the mangrove site,such as a fringing or barrier reef on a small island orlow coastal site, they are important to the mangrovevulnerability assessment.A coral reef resilience survey has the capacity toexpand into a large project, particularly if keen diversand coral scientists become involved. Involvement witha long-term coral reef monitoring project would behelpful for guidance and data sharing.3.7.2 Sea grassSeagrass Watch’s standard methods for baselineassessment and monitoring of sea grass communitystructure and condition are available athttp://www.seagrasswatch.org/manuals.htmlHow to collect dataFollow the guidelines in the Seagrass Watch manuals(McKenzie & Campbell, 2002; McKenzie et al., 2003).These are written for citizens, not specialists, andthis is a good exercise in which to involve the localcommunity.Record characteristics of sea grass habitat adjacent tomangrove areas, including• geographic location• visual estimates of above-ground biomasspercentage cover (4 replicates of a 0.25 m 2quadrat)• species composition• percent algae cover• sediment type• water depthEquipment Required– 4 x 0.25 m 2 quadrats– Sea grass ID guide– Data sheets (3 per transect x 3 transects per site)– 50 m measuring tape– 30 cm ruler– CompassHow to interpret vulnerabilityWhere sea grass communities adjacent to mangrovesare in poor condition, mangroves will havereduced sediment supply from calcareous sea grassproductivity, reduced protection from wave action andreduced quality of adjacent habitats used by mangrovespecies, such as fish. Hence, reduced resilienceof adjacent sea grass increases the sensitivity ofmangroves to climate change impacts.Using the guidance in the Seagrass Watch manualsrank vulnerability on the following scale, either site bysite or calculated as an average for the area. Record thescore in the final column (S = score).Rank 1 2 3 4 5 SSensitivity factorsAdjacent sea grass resilience Very high High Moderate Low Very lowClimate Change Vulnerability Assessment and Adaptation Planning for Mangrove Systems | 69