Abstract

Many small island developing states such as The Bahamas are vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, which is further exacerbated by anthropogenic pressures like overfishing and unsustainable development. Mitigating the impact of these pressures on key ecosystems, like mangroves, and their related ecological processes is critical to supporting biodiversity and socioeconomic stability. Andros has one of the most extensive mangrove ecosystems in The Bahamas; however, some of these areas have been severely altered or fragmented, resulting in a decrease in many of the critical ecological functions and valuable ecosystem services provided by these areas. In order to determine future restoration activities for these areas, the Perry Institute for Marine Science partnered with the Bahamas Sportfishing Conservation Association and the Environmental Defense Fund to combine local traditional knowledge with scientific approaches to identify sites for management and interventions. We utilized an intervention co-design framework to engage stakeholders from several central Andros communities in prioritizing blocked creek systems for restoration and monitoring activities. Community ranks were then paired with other established criteria, including aspects such as levels of biodiversity and nursery function, availability of resources, restoration complexity, value for fisheries, etc., to identify creek sites that could undergo restoration processes in the short-term and a long-term plan for other sites. This project highlights strategies for developing collaborative restoration efforts that engage stakeholders from the onset of a project that not only provides them with a first-hand view of the process, but also authentically engages them in a co-design process throughout