Applying nature-based solutions to increase coastal resilience and capacity for climate change adaptation in protected areas of Cuba

Climate risks of rising seas, more frequent and intense hurricanes, and reductions in fisheries productivity comprise significant threats to livelihoods, ecosystems, and infrastructure in the island nation of Cuba. These risks are often exacerbated by local-scale challenges in coastal protected areas (PAs) and neighboring communities who rely heavily on the ecosystem services these PAs and surrounding seascapes provide for their livelihoods and wellbeing. Interventions will take place across four protected areas (PAs) that cover reefs, seagrass meadows, coastal mangroves, and other coastal vegetation. The PAs include Corona de San Carlos Faunal Refuge, Laguna de Maya Faunal Refuge, Cienaga de Zapata National Park, and Alejandro de Humboldt National Park. The project improves the management of PAs, ensuring the continued provision of ecosystem services. Training and integration of PA staff and communities will take place to increase effective and adaptive management to protect natural resources and coastal marine ecosystems. They will work together to understand climate change impacts on ecosystems and the local threats that exacerbate them, focusing on unsustainable fishing, plastic pollution, and invasive alien species. Communities will also jointly produce realistic EbA implementation plans that set forth context-specific solutions to reduce climate risks. Building the EbA capacity of PA staff and communities to collectively and proactively manage coastal marine ecosystems will secure critical habitat for biodiversity and fisheries while improving people’s ability to respond to climate impacts in an uncertain future. Restoration activities will take place on mangroves, coral reefs, and other coastal vegetation at degraded sites to improve ecosystem service benefits to people and nature. Activities will also focus on developing plans for adaptive fisheries management that take into consideration the projected impacts of climate change on critical species and habitats. Community-based management that protects critical habitats and fish life stages will support families and local economies that depend on fisheries management.