The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, as part of its Science to Achieve Results (STAR) program, aims to promote scientific progress towards the understanding of coastal ecosystem resilience by seeking applications proposing research to characterize, quantify, and define indicators or metrics of resilience for various types of coastal ecosystems, especially those ecosystems that have climate mitigation and adaptation and/or blue (ocean-stored) carbon sequestration potential and develop methods and approaches to advance economic valuation of resilience benefits provided by coastal ecosystems.
Donor Name: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
State: All States
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 05/01/2024
Size of the Grant: More than $1 million
Grant Duration: 3 Years
Details:
Estuarine and coastal marine regions are characterized by many types of ecosystems, including tidal wetlands and salt marshes, mangrove forests, and seagrass meadows. Healthy coastal ecosystems provide essential functions such as erosion control, flood mitigation, improvements in water quality, nutrient recycling, sediment trapping, carbon sequestration, providing habitat for diverse wildlife, and supporting fisheries and recreation. Coastal ecosystem resilience herein is defined as in Oliver et al. (2015), as the capacity of the coastal ecological system to persist through and rapidly recover from stressors and disturbances.
While coastal ecosystem indicators have been developed at regional and national levels, less research has been done to develop metrics or indicators that reflect the ability of coastal ecosystems to persist through and recover from stressors and disturbances. Indicators of coastal ecosystem resilience, or the individual metrics that may comprise indicators, could be used in conjunction with indicators of ecosystem condition and vulnerability in coastal resilience decision-making frameworks.
Specific Research Areas of Interest
- Research Area 1: Characterize, quantify, and define indicators or metrics of resilience for various types of coastal ecosystems, especially those ecosystems that have climate mitigation and adaptation and/or blue carbon sequestration potential (i.e., tidal wetlands and marshes, seagrass beds, mangrove forests).
- Coastal ecosystems are composed of dynamic and interacting floral and faunal species and communities interacting with the abiotic environment. Stress associated with a changing climate along with other anthropogenic impacts can impact the ability of these ecosystems to function and to provide benefits and services to coastal areas and human communities.
- Research Area 2: Develop methods and approaches to advance economic valuation of the resilience benefits of coastal ecosystems.
- Resilient coastal ecosystems provide many benefits and services to humans, including habitat for recreationally and economically important aquatic species, recreational opportunities, carbon sequestration, and historical and cultural significance. These ecosystems can also provide climate resilience-related benefits to coastal areas and communities, such as dampening wave energy, preventing erosion, and decreasing storm surge, which can mitigate damage and impacts. A better understanding and accounting of the ecological and economic benefits provided by coastal ecosystems can inform management of these natural resources.
Funding Information
- Estimated Total Program Funding: $8,400,000
- Award Ceiling: $1,200,000
Project Period
The total project period may not exceed 3 years.
Eligibility Criteria
Public and private nonprofit institutions/organizations, public and private institutions of higher education (IHEs), and hospitals located in the U.S. and its territories or possessions; state and local governments; Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments; and U.S. territories or possessions are eligible to apply. Profit-making firms and individuals are not eligible to apply.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.
