a three-year research programme with Utrecht University and Newcaste university to explore how coastal communities perceive and adapt to climate change in the context of their cultural heritage and how this can inform climate mitigation and adaptation.
Funded by
Overview
The Sea-CCHange collaboration:
SEA-CCHange focuses on six international cases, including coastal communities in Ireland, UK, the Netherlands, Indonesia, and the Caribbean. The consortium partners span a wide range of inter- and transdisciplinary topics and societal partners that span local government, research policy, citizen science, fisheries and regional cultural heritage, who will collaborate to form a socio-ecological archive on/for the coastal community experience and promote impact and outreach to have their voices heard.
The Kerry Graveyards Case Studies:
Over the next 50 years Kerry will become warmer, and will experience more extreme rainfall, droughts, and intense storms. Coastal areas will be particularly impacted given the additional hazard of Sea Level Rise (up to 80cm by 2100).
This study focusses on key historic coastal graveyards in the ownership and management of Kerry County Council (KCC) - all but one of which are still in active use . The sites are all recorded on the Record of Monuments and Places (RMP), which provides them with statutory protections under the National Monuments Act 1930-2014. The hazards of most concern for all sites (identified during the research process) were coastal erosion, coastal flooding, structural collapse and vegetation growth. Two additional hazards of wild-fire and maladaptation were identified at individual sites.
It is difficult to know what to do with the sites, given their historical and cultural values and the climate hazards they face. This project aims to collaborate with key stakeholders of the sites on determining the values of the sites and how these values can be maintained or transformed by adapting to the climate hazards they face.
UPDATES
On February 22nd, we joined local communities in Cahersiveen and Castlegregory to present the Sea-CCHange project and start discussions on the graveyards sites. We had a great turnout and lively discussions - we look forward to developing this project further with the different stakeholders. You can view some of the photos and videos of the events below! Thank you to FutureFocus21and the Maharees Conservation Associationfor helping us organise the events!
A tour with Cathy of some of the sites
Abbey Island
Kilshannig
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