Socio-ecological Mobility: A Research Strategy for a New Coastline

Persistent development, population pressures, and increasing natural hazards are unequivocally changing socio-ecological systems in the coastal zone. This essay provides direction and initiates scientific dialog on the potential role of mobility in adapting to natural and social changes in coastal environments. The essay identifies four key research areas on information needed to develop coastal management actions and policies that support and recognize socio-ecological coupling in coastal areas. The proposed research includes: (1) modeling localized scenarios that illustrate the tradeoffs associated with various sea level rise adaptation, (2) assessing and consolidating mobility terminology for different applications and contexts, (3) developing solutions to synchronize the co-migration of natural environments and built infrastructure, and (4) evaluating existing or creating new transparent, equitable, and sustainable policies and incentives to support socio-ecological mobility by using case studies and social science methods to understand how people make mobility decisions in different contexts.