Documenting coastal change and community-based observations in Alaska communities

Abstract

Climate change is causing rapid and unprecedented environmental changes in Alaska coastal communities. These changes are impacting community infrastructure, travel access and subsistence activities for Indigenous people. Many communities lack access to relevant data products which can inform potential climate change mitigation strategies. Relevant data products can be developed through community engagement to identify research priorities and culturally appropriate community-based research methodologies to document community-based observations. Relevant coastal data products were produced for communities participating in two community-based monitoring programs: The Stakes for Stakeholders erosion monitoring program and the Alaska Arctic Observatory and Knowledge Hub monitoring network. Lessons learned from working with these two community-based monitoring networks were identified and discussed in detail. These lessons can be used to inform current and future community-based research partnerships in Alaska Indigenous communities. Researchers interested in further insight on these topics can build on insights coming directly from various Indigenous organizations who are voicing their perspectives on the current state of climate change research in Alaska.