OUR WORK
Oceans transport carbon from the atmosphere into the deep-ocean water masses, buffering global climate change and its effects on marine and terrestrial ecosystems. The rising concentration of anthropogenic CO2 emissions in the atmosphere is driving up ocean surface temperatures causing major changes in surface ocean pH. In extreme situations, this will drastically modify the structure and functioning of coastal and marine ecosystems and hence the uninterrupted provision of key ecosystem goods and services including the maintenance of marine biodiversity. Climate change may impact biodiversity by: a) extinction, b) shifts in species distribution ranges, c) adaptation or acclimatization to the new conditions. Maintaining healthy ecosystems is crucial to prevent further losses of biodiversity. However, it is not easy since human activity continuously contributes to the degradation of the environment. Furthermore, it requires a baseline knowledge of the target marine ecosystems, which in many cases is rarely available
The Republic of Cabo Verde is an African archipelago, which depends largely on marine resources. Their coastal areas ensure human wellbeing through resources availability (e.g. food) and jobs. However, coastal regions in Cabo Verde are highly exposed to natural hazards and to multiple pressures associated with anthropogenic activities, including reclamation of wetlands for agriculture, water contamination and plastic pollution. They are, thus in an enormous need for sustainable development of activity sectors linked to the sea, i.e. “Blue Growth”.
Cabo Verde is a country where “Blue Growth” can help to contribute with solutions for current issues, such as high poverty rates, while building on the long tradition of local economical use of the marine environment. However, no valuable baseline knowledge on the environmental status of their marine ecosystems is available, hampering the development of measures ensuring their sustainable use, management, conservation and restoration. Information on marine habitats is scarce and there is no integrated evaluation of marine resources to support knowledge-based regulations and guidelines for their sustainable use, in line with the national development trends. Santo Antão has the highest poverty rate of the Archipelago and income inequalities and is highly vulnerable to extreme natural phenomena.
The COAST project will significantly contribute to understanding the status and functioning of the ocean system around Santo Antão island in Cabo Verde, as its contribution to the country’s economy. The project aims to achieve 5 main objectives: a) to characterize and map pelagic and benthic habitats, as well as anthropogenic pressures of Santo Antão, b) to estimate patterns of diversity in marine communities in relation to habitat features, c) to assess the vulnerability of the studied communities to both environmental and anthropogenic pressures, through the application of risk assessment models, d) to implement conservation and restoration actions for selected habitats/ecosystems based on the results of the first three objectives, e) to provide baseline data that inform policymakers, authorities, institutions and practitioners towards effective marine conservation and restoration in these habitats and demonstrate the repeatability of the proposed approach in other regions.
To achieve these goals, dedicated scientific surveys will be conducted to collect data from the marine ecosystems around Santo Antão under a transdisciplinary and integrated framework, with a specific focus on selected areas of interest. We will apply state-of-the-art technology, combining visual and acoustic observations with physical sampling, modelling and remote sensing.
COAST expects to improve current knowledge on marine habitats of Santo Antão island and to provide efficient management recommendations for their sustainable development, along with mitigation plans for the effects of global changes, in line with the needs of stakeholders and local communities.
EXPLORE OUR WORK
WP1. Baseline data collection
This WP aims to a) review current knowledge on Santo Antão seabed morphology, biodiversity and habitats with a focus on the first 200 m below sea level to identify target survey areas, b) collect multibeam echosounder data and main hydrographic water-column parameters from target areas, c) characterize near surface ocean climatology around the island, d) characterize pelagic and benthic communities and their relation to environmental characteristics in the target areas, and e) estimate anthropogenic pressures. Marine habitats of Santo Antão will be assessed by integrating physical, geomorphological, biogeochemical and biological data. WP1 will summarize previously collected data on all disciplines to identify target survey areas to map around the island using hydro-acoustic and other oceanographic techniques and document pelagic and benthic communities. All data will be integrated in a GIS platform, to produce suitable maps, which will be progressively updated and presented in the Project Webpage (webGIS). This WP links with all WPs.
COAST’s work on baseline data collection is led by Dr. Henk-Jan Hoving at GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research, and by Dr Jacopo Aguzzi at CSIC
WP2. Ecosystem functioning of Santo Antão habitats
This WP aims to investigate the ecosystem functioning of SA coastal habitats, as well as the potential impacts of land and sea-based anthropogenic activities on the functions provided by the key habitats by assessing: a) functional diversity in communities associated with these habitats taking into account local environmental conditions and pressures, and b) the transfer of matter and energy from primary producers to higher-level predators, including species targeted by local fisheries, in the foodwebs, using C and N isotopic and lipid composition. WP2 will use data and samples acquired in WP1 to build a comprehensive dataset for selected habitats. Functional diversity will be used as a potential indicator of ecosystem functions and services. We take into consideration aspects such as complementarity (functional diversity indices) or/and traits identity or group identities, as drivers of functions and ecosystem services.This information will also be the baseline and relevant for the trait-based vulnerability assessments (WP3). Complementarily, functional aspects related with carbon flow in the food web, will be analysed using stable isotopes and fatty acids techniques.
COAST’s work on ecosystem functioning of Santo Antão habitats is led by Dr Teresa Amaro at University of Aveiro and by Dr Gauthier Schaal at University of Brest.
WP3. Environmental assessment of Santo Antão ecosystems and potential restoration actions
This WP aims to 3.1) assess the vulnerability of selected marine habitats and species to climate and other relevant stressors, using a trait-based risk assessment modelling approach; 3.2) to characterize the connectivity and local adaptation (crucial for effective conservation and restoration policies) of two habitat forming species; 3.3) identify priority areas that are in need of protection and restoration 3.4) implement pilot restoration actions developed for benthic ecosystems dominated by habitat-forming species in SA. All physical and biological available data, including WP1-WP2 results, will be integrated into the vulnerability assessment framework. This framework will allow to identify marine habitats at climate risk (and other relevant stressors from WP1) and identify the key species that promote the resilience of these habitats. We will follow trait-based vulnerability assessments, which include sensitivity and adaptive capacity descriptors (using trait information from WP2) and exposure to stressors, as primary components to define vulnerability. We will use the information on habitats to classify relevant areas as Ecologically or Biologically Significant Marine Areas (EBSAs), following the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) criteria.
COAST’s work on Environmental assessment of Santo Antão ecosystems and potential restoration actions is led by Dr Marina Dolbeth at CIIMAR and by Dr Cristina Linares at University of Barcelona.
WP 4. Socio- economics and policy for conservation and restoration
This WP aims to a) identify the importance of Santo Antão marine area and resources for economic development and social welfare, b) identify and assess the reciprocal interactions between suggested conservation actions and economic development, c) stimulate different stakeholder groups to share their knowledge on the socioecological importance of Santo Antão marine area and resources and the development of conservation actions that are in balance with economic development, d) produce guidelines for policymakers to develop integrated marine management strategies and plans.
When estimating the conservation value of a specific geographic area and hence consequent conservation measures (link with WP3), the value of that area for economic development and societal welfare must also be considered and hence estimated. This valuation can ultimately be used to develop several Blue Growth scenarios, where various combinations of trade-offs between economic growth, ecosystem conservation and social welfare enhancement objectives can be estimated and visualized. This is necessary in order to suggest integrated marine management plans that ensure sustainable development of that area. Finally, the advancement of such plans can be achieved by developing and providing science-based implementation guidelines to local authorities. Based on this, WP4 tasks will include activities, such as the review of statistical datasets and other published sources of information combined with interviews and workshops with locals, to identify the importance of the Santo Antão marine area and resources for sustainable economic development. These will feed into the attempt to develop integrated marine management suggestions that balance conservation and socio-economic goals and objectives. Engagement of the local stakeholders throughout the project for further collection of their input for the development of Blue Growth scenarios and their feedback on integrated marine management suggestions. The development of guidelines for Santo Antão policymakers and planning authorities that will assist them in the development and implementation of integrated marine management plans.
COAST’s work on socio- economics and policy for conservation and restoration is led by Dr Tânia Li Chen at AIR Centre and by Dr Jorge Revez at ADPM
WP 5. Communication, training and outreach
As our knowledge of coastal marine ecosystems is rapidly evolving, a strong and transparent communication and dissemination strategy are of utmost importance.This WP aims to a) disseminate and communicate the scientific outcomes and products developed by the project to all relevant stakeholders and end-users (i.e. consortium partners, policymakers and governance actors, industry and business sectors, citizens and civil society organisations, and the scientific community), b) raise awareness to biodiversity and ecosystem conservation through training Master’s and PhD students as well as highly-skilled early-stage researchers, and c) promote ocean literacy and engage policy and decision-makers throughout the duration of the project. Task 5.1 will develop actions for interaction with stakeholders, the scientific community, including role-playing game sessions at key international conferences and dissemination of policy recommendations on conservation and restoration actions. Task 5.2 will be dedicated to teaching courses and training of early career researchers for capacity development. With the results of WP 1-4, COAST will increase ocean literacy through activities with school children, university students and young researchers.
COAST’s work on communication, training and outreach is led by Frederic Swiercznski at Underwater eXperience and by Dr Marina Dolbeth at CIIMAR
WP6 Coordination & data management
WP6 will ensure the success of the project by coordinating the activities and maintaining an efficient and proactive relation within the consortium.In particular, this WP intends to achieve the highest standards of quality of performance and deliverables.
This WP aims to a) to coordinate the project with a consortium agreement document to which all partners agree and where an advisory board will act as a scientific auditing panel ensuring the best scientific direction and outputs of the project, b) ensure effective functioning and encourage the exchanges between scientists and the various stakeholders included through networking to meeting the agenda and reporting procedures, c) write mid-term and final reports of the project and monitor that each partner complies with the rules of its national funding body, and d) the coordinator, together with a representative of each partner, will define the strategy and risk plan and mitigation measures, management, accessibility and archival of the data generated within the project. To avoid repetition, details on the coordination and data management can be found in IIIC.
To ensure good communication between the COAST team, regular meetings will be organised where we will discuss the tasks planned and ensure that the deadlines are respected. The PI will coordinate the work, in concert with the leaders of each institution. The data generated through the project will be managed according to the FAIR principles including the development of a GIS geodatabase (WP1) and the design of a website.
COAST’s work on coordination & data management Dr Teresa Amaro at University of Aveiro and by Dr. Henk-Jan Hoving at GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research