Transformative Research Actions for Resilient Coastal Communities

Coastal communities face many pressing interrelated environmental, social, cultural and economic resilience issues. Responding to the diverse challenges involves actions of stakeholders across government agencies and broader civic society. Our project will explore and implement new transformative place- and values- based governance for coastal resilience and sustainability working across diverse locations in Wales (climate adaptation and coastal change, Mid-North Wales), Scotland (conflict resolution, Firth of Clyde), Northern Ireland (transboundary challenges and deprivation, Lough Foyle) and England (nature recovery and wellbeing, Humber Estuary). In each location, we will co-develop partnerships between researchers, communities and stakeholders, called Resilience Collectives (RCs). In the Firth of Clyde, our focus is how to transform marine planning to establish effective conflict resolution and better bridge the values and problems felt by the diversity of communities. The Lough Foyle RC is located in a highly deprived coastal community with challenges over the accessibility and quality of services. Resilience issues here include natural resources, widespread deprivation, ownership, transboundary politics and dealing with post-Brexit issues. In the Humber Estuary, multiple resilience issues including high levels of socioeconomic deprivation, industrial transition, nature recovery, require agile governance systems. A Humber-wide approach to maximise the area’s potential for socio-economic and environmental prosperity has never been achieved previously. The Mid-North Wales RC will explore topics relating to climate adaptation and coastal change in the area, with a specific focus on nature-based solutions, the role of habitat creation, and integrated approaches linking the coast and uplands. Each RC will co-develop a deep understanding of the barriers and opportunities to achieve transformative change for resilience and sustainability in their communities. Transdisciplinary Action Plans will be co-developed that support place-based community resilience and governance. Our work will weave together arts-based approaches, economic and socio-cultural valuation, ecological modelling and deliberative democracy. We will explore narratives of resilience, assess natural capital, diverse values of nature and ocean literacy across all of the study areas. The results used in conjunction with innovative governance practices, such as citizen panels, will identify key leverage points for increasing resilience. The learning and experiences of each RC will be drawn together and shared via a newly created Resilience Assembly. The Coastal Partnership Network (CPN), working in close collaboration with the UK and devolved natural environment agencies, will transfer learning from the project to a broader national context and ensure project legacy. In summary, our aim is to set up Resilience Collectives (RCs) (researchers, communities, stakeholders) in each of the UK nations to co-develop transdisciplinary, place-based approaches, grounded in local narratives and diverse values, to create transformational change leading to resilient, sustainable coastal communities.