A common future for coastal peoples and seabirds facing extreme climatic events

Abstract

Extreme climatic events (ECEs) are increasing in frequency and severity due to climate change. These events disrupt coastal ecosystems and the livelihoods of >2.5 billion coastal peoples around the world. Very few studies assess the combined impacts of ECEs on wildlife and people in coastal socio-ecosystems. Yet, such research is key to understanding and mitigating the effects of ECEs along the world’s coastlines. Seabirds are conspicuous and charismatic, and unite marine and terrestrial biomes. They are unique intermediaries of these socio-ecological systems and key ecological indicators of the broader social-ecological consequences of ECEs across coastal areas. As humans and seabirds will share a common future in the context of major environmental changes, we advocate for interdisciplinary research on the combined effects of ECEs on marine birds and coastal peoples. By incorporating climatological, ecological, social, cultural, and economic perspectives inclusive of multiple knowledge systems, the framework we provide aims to inform holistic and equitable conservation planning for resilient coastal socio-ecological systems in the context of ECEs.