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Open SESAME: A Social-Ecological Systems framework for collaborative Adaptive Management and Engagement in coastal restoration and climate adaptation
Citation:
Mulvaney, K., S. Ayvazian, C. Chaffee, C. Wigand, M. Schoell, AND Katherine Canfield. Open SESAME: A Social-Ecological Systems framework for collaborative Adaptive Management and Engagement in coastal restoration and climate adaptation. Resilient Coastal Wetlands and Communities: Multi-Regional Workshop, NA, Virtual, May 24 - 25, 2022.
Impact/Purpose:
While coastal restoration and climate adaptation projects are increasingly engaging a range of stakeholders and partners, there has been little focus on identifying lessons learned and best practices from this engagement. This work highlights the stakeholder engagement and partnerships involved in two coastal adaptation projects, a living shorelines project on Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, and a sediment placement project in Charlestown, Rhode Island. These projects highlight the need for engagement throughout the entirety of the process with clear expectations for all who are engaged.
Description:
Here we present the Social-Ecological Systems, Adaptive Management, and Engagement (SESAME) Framework that highlights the connections between the human and ecological components of coastal restoration and adaptation efforts. We built and describe this framework through discussion of two southern New England case studies: 1) sediment placement on Ninigret Pond, Rhode Island, and 2) living shorelines on Sengekontacket Pond, Massachusetts. The partner and stakeholder engagement from these projects provide important lessons learned for practical implementation of the SESAME framework. These lessons include the need for engagement throughout the entirety of the process, specific clarification of roles within the restoration efforts, and flexibility in implementation and goal setting.