Tools to Assess and Respond to Climate Impacts on Bonaire National Marine Park

Collaborative research with STINAPA Bonaire, managing organization of Bonaire National Marine Park, was recently funded by the Lenfest Oceans Program. The project aims to increase the climate resilience and adaptive capacticy of the Bonaire National Marine Park. This two-year grant begins Summer ‘23 and will support graduate and undergraduate researchers in the Lester Lab.

Project Description:

The Bonaire National Marine Park (BNMP) was established in 1979 to protect key ecosystems such as coral reefs, seagrass beds, and mangrove forests off the coast of the Dutch Caribbean island, Bonaire. But impacts from climate change threaten the health and productivity of Bonaire’s tropical habitats. To buffer against future impacts and strengthen ecosystem resilience, managers need the ability to identify priority areas for dynamic management interventions and re-zoning, as well as improved methods for monitoring, planning and analytical tools that can give timely warnings of climate events. In this project, researchers from Florida State University and Stichting Nationale Parken Bonaire (STINAPA), the management body of the BNMP, will:

• Estimate climate vulnerability of marine habitats in the BMNP;

• Perform a gap analysis to identify areas where monitoring efforts could be reallocated to detect early warning signs of climate impacts; and

• Develop dynamic management responses and new zoning regulations to enhance resilience. 

Research team:

Florida State University — Sarah Lester (project lead), Andrew Rassweiler, Laurel Field (PhD student)

STINAPA Bonaire — Caren Eckrich, Roxanne-Liana Francisca

For more on this project see: https://www.lenfestocean.org/en/research-projects/tools-to-assess-and-respond-to-climate-impacts-on-bonaire-national-marine-park