91Ë¿¹ÏÊÓÆµ

overview of a flooded forest area and river

Objectives

The project focusses on flooding of coastal and riverine communities due to sea level rise in the CaribbeanÌýCommunity (CARICOM) countries of Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, and St. Lucia. It aims to build resilience toÌýflooding through understanding the connectivity between terrestrial, freshwater and coastal systems and theÌýaffected people. It will support improved policy and governance structures, that reduce the social, economic and environmental damages as a consequence of climate change. The projectÌýwill be co-designed with communities, and agencies that undertake floodÌýmonitoring, adaptation and mitigation. Ìý

Research questions are:

  1. What are theÌýprojected sea level rise, coastal dynamics, and tidal fluctuations expected in future climate scenarios?
  2. What is the extent of disruptions to human populations, economies, health, and livelihoods due to flood inundations?
  3. What are the socio-economic drivers and coping mechanisms to flooding by coastal and riverine communities?
  4. Using adaptive management, what types of flood control and adaptation mechanisms are required to cope with future flooding scenarios?
  5. What are the government policies, institutional frameworks,Ìýland use and zoning regulations and social networks required for resilience? The outcome is a CARICOM FloodÌýResilience Framework. Ìý

Work Packages and Deliverables:

icon of three bodies with a thought bulb and a lightbulb in itWP 1. Community learning and co-creation of flood mitigation measures

Deliverable:

A community learning platform. The platform will also include learning informationÌýfrom St. Cuthbert’s mission, as to how they cope with floods. Other coastal communities can learnÌýfrom the St. Cuthbert mission, best practices to flood adaptation, and food security developed byÌýthe Indigenous community 11,000 years ago.

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icon of a computer with different data including a gear and a bar graph

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WP 2. Data systems for decision making

Deliverable:

An integrated, co-designed data base management system to aid decision-making.

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an icon with a water drop making ripples in waterWP 3. Hydrological and hydraulic modelling

Deliverables:

i) Simulation models for flood forecasting and mitigation planning;

ii) TechnologiesÌýrecommended for flood alleviation and protection of infrastructural assets;

iii) User-friendly web-based portals to visualise flood modelling outputs for real-time flood guidance and future planning.

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icon of a body in a wheelchair and a person holding balls with a checkmarkWP 4. Inclusive and adaptive flood risk governance

Deliverables:

i) A shared understanding of aspirations for and the barriers and enablers toÌýinclusive and adaptive FRG, co-production;

ii) A co-developed roadmap for inclusive and adaptiveÌýFRG in Guyana and Trinidad.

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an icon head with a lightbulb and gearWP 5. Capacity development

Deliverables:

i) Trained cadre of highly qualified personnel in the Caribbean;

ii) New tools andÌýskills delivered to vulnerable communities in disaster flood management and recovery;

iii) Communities and local experts trained to collect data as part of citizen science and technologicalÌýinnovation;

iv) Delivery of 91Ë¿¹ÏÊÓÆµâ€™s on-line postgraduate certificate in collaborative, integrated andÌýadaptive water management.

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a home with a checkmark and water ripples belowWP 6. Building flood resilience in communities both nationally and regionally

Deliverables:

i) Flood risk indicators and formulation of dynamic hypotheses for system dynamicsÌýmodel development;Ìý

ii) Creation of citizen science observatories and social media networks;

iii) Institutionalization of an improved land-use framework to reduce flood vulnerability;

iv) KnowledgeÌýdissemination to the wider Caribbean region.

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