RISING Cross-State Workshop

Hosted at the University of Delaware Carvel Research and Education Center Georgetown, DE

A total of 56 participants joined us from different sectors across Maryland, Delaware, and New Jersey. Participants worked together to develop a shared vision of resilience and actionable strategies to address saltwater intrusion and other coastal stressors.

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RISING Resilience Vision Statement: RISING defines resilience as the ability for communities to…

• Recover, adapt, and manage the impacts of coastal stressors.

• Be proactive and make decisions to protect ecosystem functionality that support livelihoods and enhance well-being in the immediate future and long-term.

Prioritized Strategies:

Strategy 1: Research demonstration site for proof of concept/ scenarios and case studies.

Strategy 2: Consolidate resources by creating a repository and clearing house of programs to be used by landowners impacted by coastal stressors. Develop a mechanism to allow all programs to be evaluated by landowners to assess feasibility and outcomes.

Strategy 3: Create a decision support tool equipped with geospatial information on incentive programs and qualification requirements. This tool should allow for support from on ground personnel and should be updated regularly. 

Strategy 4: Create a network to identify priority research on private coastal lands to inform policy. Develop scopes of work and apply for funding

Strategy 5: Create stronger linksamong science, impacted communities, and policy-makers to adapt to coastal stressors.

Strategy 6: Develop a decision tree framework with resources, information, and contacts that enables landowners to identify symptoms of SWI and navigate technical and financial resources.

Strategy 7: Create resources and training opportunities for legislators and decision makers at different scales (local, state, federal) to promote understanding of and responsiveness to coastal stressors.

Strategy 8: Identify, connect, and incentivize early-adopters of conservation, financial support, and other funded programs to facilitate the establishment of “community technical ambassadors” who can advocate for private landowners.

Next Step: RISING Working Groups turn strategies into action!

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Check out the Workshop Agenda!