Marine Coastal Ecosystems Biodiversity and Services in a Changing World

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Embracing Nature-based Solutions to promote resilient marine and coastal ecosystems

Publication . O'Leary, Bethan C.; Fonseca, Catarina; Cornet, Cindy C.; de Vries, Mindert B.; Degia, A. Karima; Failler, Pierre; Furlan, Elisa; Garrabou, Joaquim; Gil, Artur José Freire; Hawkins, Julie P.; Krause-Jensen, Dorte; Le Roux, Xavier; Peck, Myron A.; Pérez, Géraldine; Queirós, Ana M.; Różyński, Grzegorz; Sanchez-Arcilla, Agustín; Simide, Rémy; Pinto, Isabel Sousa; Trégarot, Ewan; Roberts, Callum M.

The world is struggling to limit greenhouse gas emissions and reduce the human footprint on nature. We therefore urgently need to think about how to achieve more with actions to address mounting challenges for human health and wellbeing from biodiversity loss, climate change effects, and unsustainable economic and social development. Nature-based Solutions (NBS) have emerged as a systemic approach and an important component of the response to these challenges. In marine and coastal spaces, NBS can contribute to improved environmental health, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and a more sustainable blue economy, if implemented to a high standard. However, NBS have been largely studied for terrestrial – particularly urban – systems, with limited uptake thus far in marine and coastal areas, despite an abundance of opportunities. Here, we provide explanations for this lag and propose the following three research priorities to advance marine and coastal NBS: (1) Improve understanding of marine and coastal biodiversity-ecosystem services relationships to support NBS better designed for rebuilding system resilience and achieving desired ecological outcomes under climate change; (2) Provide scientific guidance on how and where to implement marine and coastal NBS and better coordinate strategies and projects to facilitate their design, effectiveness, and value through innovative synergistic actions; (3) Develop ways to enhance marine and coastal NBS communication, collaboration, ocean literacy and stewardship to raise awareness, co-create solutions with stakeholders, boost public and policy buy-in, and potentially drive a more sustained investment. Research effort in these three areas will help practitioners, policy-makers and society embrace NBS for managing marine and coastal ecosystems for tangible benefits to people and marine life.

2022-12Journal article

Open access

Marine and coastal ecosystems and climate change : dataset from a public awareness survey

Publication . Fonseca, Catarina; Wood, Louisa; Andriamahefazafy, Mialy; Casal, Gema; Chaigneau, Tomas; Cornet, Cindy C.; Degia, Anna; Failler, Pierre; Ferraro, Gianluca; Furlan, Elisa; Hawkins, Julie P.; de Juan, Silvia; Krause, Torsten; McCarthy, Timothy; Pérez, Géraldine; Roberts, Callum M.; Tregarot, Ewan; O’Leary, Bethan C.

The dataset is the result of an self-administered online survey on public perceptions about climate change, the value of marine and coastal ecosystems, human impacts on them and their management. The survey was released in four languages, English, French, Spanish and Italian ('survey' folder). Potential respondents were provided with a participant information form, also available in four languages ('participant information form' folder). The final dataset comprises a total of 709 respondents. The dataset contains mostly numerical coding, except text entries in 9 columns. Version 2 of this dataset presents all responses in English. The corresponding codebook provides the questions and coding information.

2022-12Dataset

Open access

Survey data of public awareness on climate change and the value of marine and coastal ecosystems

Publication . Fonseca, Catarina; Wood, Louisa; Andriamahefazafy, Mialy; Casal, Gema; Chaigneau, Tomas; Cornet, Cindy C.; Degia, A. Karima; Failler, Pierre; Ferraro, Gianluca; Furlan, Elisa; Hawkins, Julie P.; de Juan, Silvia; Krause, Torsten; McCarthy, Tim; Pérez, Géraldine; Roberts, Callum M.; Trégarot, Ewan; O'Leary, Bethan C.

The long-term provision of ocean ecosystem services depends on healthy ecosystems and effective sustainable management. Understanding public opinion about marine and coastal ecosystems is important to guide decision-making and inform specific actions. However, available data on public perceptions on the interlinked effects of climate change, human impacts and the value and management of marine and coastal ecosystems are rare. This dataset presents raw data from an online, self-administered, public awareness survey conducted between November 2021 and February 2022 which yielded 709 responses from 42 countries. The survey was released in four languages (English, French, Spanish and Italian) and consisted of four main parts: (1) perceptions about climate change; (2) perceptions about the value of, and threats to, coasts, oceans and their wildlife, (3) perceptions about climate change response; and (4) socio-demographic information. Participation in the survey was voluntary and all respondents provided informed consent after reading a participant information form at the beginning of the survey. Responses were anonymous unless respondents chose to provide contact information. All identifying information has been removed from the dataset. The dataset can be used to conduct quantitative analyses, especially in the area of public perceptions of the interlinkages between climate change, human impacts and options for sustainable management in the context of marine and coastal ecosystems. The dataset is provided with this article, including a copy of the survey and participant information forms in all four languages, data and the corresponding codebook.

2023-01Journal article

Open access