Climate Change & Protected Areas

Interesting post from Colorado State University on the role that protected areas can play in mitigating the impacts of climate change. During my graduate thesis work, I heard similar narratives from the community members that I spoke with. Local community members advocated of the great benefit living in a marine reserve had brought them. The marine protected area (MPA) conserved mangrove forests, which safeguarded the community from the impacts of climate change-intensified hurricane storm surges. This was not the case 20 years ago. As climate change impacts continue to worsen, protected areas should be examined critically as a vital tool in mitigation.