Comparing vulnerability and institutional capacities in three Latin American coastal localities in response to extreme rainfall events

Published in Journal of Coastal Conservation 25:22
Authors

Ruiz-Luna, A., Martínez-Peralta, C., Eichler, P.P.B., Teixeira, L.R., Acosta-More., Guzmán, R.H., Iwama, A.Y.
Publication year 2021
DOI https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11852-020-00790-4
Affiliations

Laboratorio de Manejo Ambiental, Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo,
Comisión de Ecología y Desarrollo Sustentable del Estado de Sonora, Dirección General de Conservación
University Federal of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Geology Department
Brazilian Institute of the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources &ndash IBAMA, Technical Unit in Caraguatatuba / SP
The Nature Conservancy, Caribbean Program
Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología Research Fellow &ndash Instituto de Investigaciones sobre los Recursos Naturales, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo,
Universidad de Los Lagos - Laboratorio de Ciencia Ciudadana y Departamento de Arquitectura,
IAI Program

IAI-NSF Seed grant

Learning on institutional capacities of response to extreme rainfall events in small coastal tourism and artisanal fishing-based economies: Case studies in Brazil, Mexico, and Dominican Republic
IAI Project IAI-NSF Seed grant
Keywords
Extreme rainfall
Climate change
Coastal vulnerability
Local capacities
Adaptation

Abstract

A multidisciplinary approach is used to evaluate the vulnerability resulting from extreme rainfall events (EREs) and to examine how institutional capacities related to prevention and response, assist small coastal locations in Latin America in coping with ERE, currently intensified by climate change. The analysis was carried out in Brazil, Dominican Republic and Mexico, at municipality and local scale, based on socio-economic and environmental indicators. Institutional capacity was assessed mainly based on semi-structured interviews, with key actors of selected study sites to obtain empirical information on the level of coordination and cooperation among them (social networks), to examine the effectiveness of the legal framework and the mechanisms for citizen participation in the decision-making process on the local scale. Present findings indicate that vulnerability by site is not directly related to local institutional capacity. The key actors&rsquo networks and legal frameworks by country seemed to be sufficient to cope with ERE impacts, but citizen participation must be reinforced. In addition, public spaces are required for sharing, discussing and exchanging information to take action regarding the prevention, response and adaptation to future ERE impacts.