In the face of increasing stressors such as sea-level rise and intensifying storm events, coastal population centers have become more interested in enhancing shoreline protection using nature-based solutions. Using habitat elements such as coastal mangroves is thought to help achieve this; however, the protective value offered by mangroves at the scale of individual homeowners remains poorly understood. This study addresses this gap by using data from Sanibel, FL, following Hurricane Ian in September 2022 to quantify how the presence and characteristics of coastal mangroves affected the level of damage sustained by inland houses. LiDAR data will provide mangrove characteristics, including fringe width, density, and height, while FEMA post-storm reports and property appraiser data will provide the amount of damage sustained and as-built house characteristics including age, value, elevation, and number of stories. Spatial relationships between these groups of factors will be analyzed using GIS software to identify the nature of relationships between them. This research will result in a vulnerability assessment matrix which will be distributed to local agencies such as the City of Sanibel Planning Commission and the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation, informing how the protection and restoration of coastal mangroves should be factored into rebuilding and coastal development plans.
Dr. Andrew Altieri, University of Florida
