Coastal Resilience Workshop in Palau Brings Together Subject Matter Experts Focused on Innovative and Nature-Based Solutions
Together with the US Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM), Tellus Civic Science (Tellus) organized the first Coastal Resilience Workshop (CRW) in Palau from 12-14 September 2023. Over 70 coastal ecosystem subject matter experts and policy makers from 10 countries in the Indo-Pacific Region attended the event, which was co-hosted by the Palau Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Environment (MAFE), and supported by Department of Defense's (DoD) Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP) and the Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP).The event themes included the utilization of R&D and technology to improve coastal ecosystems, as well as holistic and traditional practices to protect and restore these critical environments. The three-day workshop consisted of presentations, panel sessions, working group exercises, and a site visit led by the Palau International Coral Reef Center (PICRC) to Ngermid Bay coral reef monitoring site, a coral nursery for heat tolerant corals, and Lighthouse Reef. Topics of discussion covered mangrove, seagrass, and salt marsh ecosystem protection and restoration; next generation coral reef development to withstand greater storm surges; aquaculture development; the opportunities associated with blue carbon credits within the Indo-Pacific region, and nature-based solutions. Working groups developed needs assessments and project concepts for addressing gaps in science around coastal ecosystem protection and restoration. These outputs will be used to guide future DoD investments.
Media Coverage
Marines, COASTAL RESILIENCY WORKSHOP: REEF RESTORATION, PROTECTION, September 22, 2023