Season 1, Episode 6

Karen McGlathery on Coastal Resilience

On this episode of Free Range, Mike Livermore is joined by Karen McGlathery, a professor at the University of Virginia’s Department of Environmental Sciences and the Director of UVA’s Environmental Resilience Institute. McGlathery’s work centers on coastal ecosystems and the discussion today covers a number of different topics related to climate change and coastal communities.

Episode is an appropriate teaching tool for but not limited to the following topics & courses: climate change, coastal preservation, environmental policy

Discussion Questions

  • How can interdisciplinary teams contribute to a more holistic understanding of coastal resilience? What challenges might arise from such a diverse team, and how can they be overcome?
  • How does proactive resilience-building differ in impact and effectiveness from reactive measures?
  • The Nature Conservancy (TNC) owns significant portions of upland areas on the Eastern Shore. How might TNC’s land holdings influence decisions around coastal resiliency efforts? Furthermore, considering the potential necessity for managed retreats, how should land conservation organizations balance their priorities between conservation values and supporting community relocation or adaptation? How can entities like TNC collaborate with local communities to ensure both ecological preservation and community resilience?
  • How can communities ensure access to their local industries like crab shacks, fish houses, etc., while also prioritizing conservation efforts?
  • Discuss the statement that “enthusiasm over carbon offsets has exceeded its capacity to actually deliver.” How might this affect the larger conversation on climate change mitigation?
  • Delve into the concept of “additionality” in relation to carbon offsets. How does this concept challenge or support the current discourse on climate action?
  • Discuss the issues surrounding the verification of seagrass restoration projects. How can the science community ensure that carbon offset projects are legitimate and effective?
  • Heatwaves and other extreme events can have unforeseen impacts on coastal ecosystems. How can modeling better incorporate these unpredictable events?

Additional Readings