Coastal Ecosystems: Our Best Shoreline Protection

The effects of climate change on human infrastructure are being experienced in communities around the world today by the carbon dioxide emissions already released into the atmosphere. As emissions grow, these impacts are expected to become more frequent and intense. While climate mitigation (reduction in emissions) is a critical component in our climate strategy, adaptation to climate change will become increasingly vital to both human and natural ecosystem survival.

Fortunately, there are co-benefits to protecting and restoring coastal ecosystems and protecting human coastal infrastructure. Maintaining and restoring healthy and resilient coastal ecosystems 
not only provides valuable services in the form of healthy seafood, tourism, and recreation, but also can increase protection from rising sea levels, coastal storms, and other impacts from climate change. This presentation will explore why protecting coastal ecosystems from non-climate impacts can increase the resiliency of these systems to existing and projected climate change impacts.

Michael Johnson is a marine biologist with NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service in Gloucester, MA. Michael received a Masters of Science degree from the University of Central Florida in marine biology.  He has worked as a research biologist with the State of Florida, in the Florida Keys and as a marine habitat specialist for NOAA in Miami, FL and Gloucester, MA since 1999. Climate change has been an interest and focus in his career for over a decade, and he is currently involved in climate change initiatives at NOAA and in his own community in Ipswich, MA.