NFRF- Co-developing Decision Support System for Coastal Mangrove-based Socio-ecological Systems in Eastern and Western Africa (CoastMan)

This project is funded through the International Joint Initiative for Research in Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation from The New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF), Canada. This is a collaboration between eight funding agencies from Brazil, Canada, Germany, Norway, South Africa, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States. The purpose of the initiative is to develop lasting strategies and solutions that can contribute to vulnerable groups being able to maintain their livelihoods, their culture, their communities, and more, despite climate change and the effects these brings Vulnerable communities in low- and middle-income countries and the Arctic are highlighted in the call, and all projects are in collaboration with affected groups. Mangroves provide a wealth of benefits, including a wide range of ecosystem services, fostering biodiversity and carbon storage, and acting as natural barriers against coastal erosion and storms. However, human activities and climate change impacts pose significant threats. The core objective is to co-develop a multi-criteria Decision Support System (DSS), to guide policymakers and practitioners in making informed decisions for restoration and conservation of mangroves. University of British Columbia (UBC)- Canada, University of Dundee (UD)-UK, Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO)-Norway will co-lead. Other partners include Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) & Mkwawa University College of Education (MUCE)- Tanzania, and University of Cape Coast (UCC)- Ghana, and five local Community organizations representing vulnerable groups in Tanzania and Ghana. Young researchers gain valuable experience. A co-production and dissemination strategy ensures project outputs are directly relevant to the endusers. This includes building their capacity to design climate actions including mangrove restoration and conservation, strengthening their resilience and food security.

Coastal Mangroves in Eastern and Western Africa offer coastal communities much-needed ecosystem services and protection against key climate change risks, including risks to low-lying coastal-ecological systems, risks to terrestrial and ocean ecosystems, and as a result, risks to food security. The project (CoastMan) proposes co-production and uptake of a Multi-Criteria Decision Support System (DSS) that provides vulnerable communities and decision-makers a knowledge-based decision-making capacity for the restoration and conservation of socio-ecological systems. An interdisciplinary and trans-sectoral team is established in partnership with vulnerable groups to co-develop and uptake a DSS to promote mitigation and strategies that enhance the adaptive capacities of the mangrove socio-ecological systems in Eastern and western Africa. Drawing on quantitative and qualitative data from extensive field research in coastal Tanzania and Ghana, extensive literature, and remote sensing, the project will 1) co-develop dynamic maps of drivers and risks of mangrove habitat loss; 2) support locally-led social-ecological and climate resilience through coordinated management of mangrove resources, 3) co-develop sustainable livelihood strategies for coastal communities, 4) co-design a novel multicriteria framework for mangrove restoration and conservation, and 5) co-develop a novel DSS. We devised a co-production and dissemination strategy so that project outputs will assist in identifying mitigation strategies and enhancing adaptive capacities of the frontline coastal communities, including building their capacity needs in designing climate actions such as restoration and conservation of mangrove ecosystems. Furthermore, the project will lead to improved knowledge and capacity of partner institutions through supporting early career researchers and promoting strengthened collaboration between partners and vulnerable coastal mangrove-dependent communities.