Leveraging the Interdependencies Between Barrier Islands and Backbarrier Saltmarshes to Enhance Resilience to Sea-Level Rise

Barrier islands and their backbarrier saltmarshes have a reciprocal relationship: aeolian and storm processes transport sediment from the beaches and dunes to create and build marshes along the landward fringe of the island. In turn, these marshes exert a stabilizing influence on the barrier by widening the barrier system and forming a platform onto which the island migrates, consequently slowing landward barrier migration and inhibiting storm breaching. Here, we present a novel framework for applying these natural interdependencies to managing coastal systems and enhancing barrier-island resilience. Further, we detail application of these principles through a case study of the design of a marsh creation project that showcases the interdisciplinary engagement of scientists, engineers, stakeholders, and policymakers. Specifically, we describe: (1) the ecologic, sedimentologic, stratigraphic, and morphologic data obtained from the southern 4 km of Cedar Island (Virginia, United States) and nearby backbarrier tidal channels, tidal flats, and flood-tidal deltas, and (2) the use of those data to develop an engineering and design plan for the construction of a high (46 ha) and low (42 ha) fringing marsh platform located behind the island, proximal to a former ephemeral inlet. Additionally, we chronicle the process used to narrow five initial alternative designs to the optimal final plan. This process involved balancing best-available existing science and models, considering design and financial constraints, identifying stakeholder preferences, and maximizing restoration benefits of habitat provision and shoreline protection. Construction of this marsh would: (1) provide additional habitat and ecosystem benefits, (2) slow the rapid migration (up to 15 m/yr at present) of the barrier island, and (3) hinder island breaching. Ultimately, this project – presently at the final design and permitting stage – may enhance the storm and sea-level rise resilience of the island, backbarrier marshes and lagoons, and the mainland town community; and provide an example of a novel science-based approach to coastal resilience that could be applied to other global barrier settings

The effect of state and federal policies on biomass business investments in Wisconsin

2 pagesWood-based biomass energy plays a key role in Wisconsin’s wood products economy and in the state’s commitment to renewable energy. The state has developed numerous policies and programs to support biomass energy harvesting, transportation, and production, and the federal government has implemented policies to support related business development. The research reported here investigates what policies have been most important in fostering biomass business investments in Wisconsin and in creating strategic opportunities along the biomass supply chain.This project was supported by Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grant no. 2013-67009-20396 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture

The effect of state and federal policies on biomass business investments in Minnesota

2 pagesWood-based biomass energy plays a key role in Minnesota’s wood products economy and in the state’s commitment to renewable energy. The state has developed numerous policies and programs to support biomass energy harvesting, transportation, and production, and the federal government has implemented policies to support related business development. The research reported here investigates what policies have been most important in fostering biomass business investments in Minnesota and in creating strategic opportunities along the biomass supply chain.This project was supported by Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grant no. 2013-67009-20396 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture

The effect of state and federal policies on biomass business investments in Oregon

2 pagesWood-based biomass energy plays a key role in Oregon’s wood products economy and in the state’s commitment to renewable energy. The state has developed numerous policies and programs to support biomass energy harvesting, transportation, and production, and the federal government has implemented policies to support related business development. The research reported here investigates what policies have been most important in fostering biomass business investments in Oregon and in creating strategic opportunities along the biomass supply chain.This project was supported by Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grant no. 2013-67009-20396 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture

How can an understanding of plant-pollinator interactions contribute to global food security?

Pollination of crops by animals is an essential part of global food production, but evidence suggests that wild pollinator populations may be declining while a number of problems are besetting managed honey bee colonies. Animal-pollinated crops grown today, bred in an environment where pollination was less likely to limit fruit set, are often suboptimal in attracting and sustaining their pollinator populations. Research into plant-pollinator interactions is often conducted in a curiosity-driven, ecological framework, but may inform breeding and biotechnological approaches to enhance pollinator attraction and crop yield. In this article we review key topics in current plant-pollinator research that have potential roles in future crop breeding for enhanced global food security

Community Coalitions & Community Benefit Agreements: Opportunities to Ensure Climate Change Mitigation Through Collaborative Planning

56 pagesThe overall purpose of the paper is to study the obstacles and opportunities faced by community coalitions (coalitions) and community benefit agreements (CBAs). Coalitions are multi-purpose alliances based on voluntary membership that work on a set scale locally or regionally to address issues of interest. A CBA is a fully negotiated and executed contract between parties to an agreement. Coalitions have been around for centuries and CBAs arose in the 1990s. Both are commonly used by community interest groups to facilitate collaboration or sharing of expertise and resources between groups, improve public participation in local decision-making processes, and enable local interest groups to address common, local threats. This research will assist Global Ocean Health, a Washington NGO, in the development of a coalition of coastal communities along the West Coast for the purpose of addressing ocean acidification to reduce risks to fisheries. The study was designed to consist of a literature review to inform the direction, a document review to review relevant law, and an analysis of three case studies to compare the obstacles and opportunities faced by coalitions and CBAs. The literature review informed the direction of the project by highlighting, (1) coalitions and CBAs are different mechanisms with differing levels of enforceability; and, (2) work product and coalitions and CBAs have arisen as a means of increasing cross-jurisdictional collaboration and public participation in planning processes, and are highly utilized by community interest groups looking to address environmentally related issues. The document review illustrated the regulatory environment formulated through federal and state environmental and land use law. The case studies were then chosen based on a diversity of membership from each other and varying levels of incorporation or enforceability. The case studies selected were the Northwest Toxic Communities Coalition (NWTCC), the Oregon Coastal Zone Management Association (OCZMA), and the Community Package Coalition (CPC). These case studies revealed that the sharing of expertise and resources as well as the increased levels of collaboration are opportunities for coalitions and CBAs. Additionally, the contribution of charismatic leaders, particularly those with planning, political, and policy experience, assist coalitions and CBAs. In contrast, many coalitions and CBAs face difficulty obtaining funding, may face legislative hurdles, and may experience a lack of support from local communities. Based on this research and other existing research, state governing bodies should implement policies allowing local communities to employ formal coalitions and CBAs as part of their land use decision powers to increase the enforceability of agreements. Overall, future research should more extensively research the opportunities and obstacles faced by coalitions and CBAs because they offer a way for local governments and community interest groups to increase local capacity to effectively deal with issues facing their locality

Assessing policy impacts on natural resource businesses : a review of research methods

24 pagesThe purpose of this working paper is to review research methods used to assess the influence of public policies on natural resource business decision-making. We describe a suite of research methods that have been used to assess policy impacts on businesses, highlighting their analytical advantages and disadvantages. We emphasize natural resource policies and businesses in our review, but also present literature from other fields as relevant. With this review we attempt to contribute to a greater ability to conduct evaluation for policies and programs targeting natural resource firms.This project was supported by Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grant no. 2013-67009-20396 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, as well as through an agreement with the U.S. Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station, agreement no. 13-CR-11261975-093

The effect of state and federal policies on biomass business investments in California

2 pagesWood-based biomass energy plays a key role in California’s wood products economy and in the state’s commitment to renewable energy. The state has developed numerous policies and programs to support biomass energy harvesting, transportation, and production, and the federal government has implemented policies to support related business development. The research reported here investigates what policies have been most important in fostering biomass business investments in California and in creating strategic opportunities along the biomass supply chain.This project was supported by Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grant no. 2013-67009-20396 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture