Developing adaptation strategies for coastal woodlot communities in the mid-Atlantic region facing saltwater intrusion and sea level rise

Saltwater intrusion and sea level rise (SWISLR) threaten coastal socio-environmental systems by degrading forests, agricultural land, and drinking water. Coastal woodlot communities are particularly vulnerable to the effects of SWISLR. This project aims to develop adaptation strategies for coastal forestry communities in the southeastern U.S., beginning with Maryland’s vulnerable coastal counties using an interdisciplinary, mixed methods approach. Our team works generate a more holistic understanding of current conditions through insights from focus groups and surveys as well as groundwater well sensors and leaf tissue elemental analysis. We are designing a web tool to visualize and communicate SWISLR data and relevant policy measures woodlot owners and policymakers so they can more proactively manage for the future.