The NBS-ENGROSSED project team recently took on an exciting week of field activities in Tobago!

From April 6th through April 13th, Research Assistants, Simone, Fadia and Andrew undertook a series of research and training tasks with experts and key stakeholders alongside Engineering Technicians Alorne, Sharelle and Amrit. Lead Investigator, Dr. Deborah Villarroel-Lamb joined them on site during the week.

 

Commissioning of Video Camera System

 Finally, after much anticipation, the entire team was on site to check out our video camera at Pigeon Point beach!  

 The video camera system was officially commissioned in March 2025. 

 Collecting wave run-up data is critical to understanding changes in the beach profile, and the interaction of waves on coastal protection structures. 

 Pigeon Point Beach, which is one of the major tourist destinations in Tobago, has been experiencing increasingly severe coastal erosion and beach flooding, especially during hurricane months.  

 This data can inform experts, practitioners, and policymakers to make robust decisions in the implementation of Nature-based Solutions for coastal      protection. 

 We have also been capturing video data of wave run-up on Trinidad’s east coast, which is experiencing severe erosion from the high-energy Atlantic Ocean. Read more about that here.  

If you are in Tobago, check out the beach camera system; use the camera sign to learn more about this initiative! 

Our latest manuscript has been published!

Published in the Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) – Civil Engineering, by Emerald Publishing, the paper discusses the results of a year-and-a-half-long effort in cross-disciplinary, cross-sectoral engagement of stakeholders toward an increased adoption of Nature-based Solutions in the Caribbean region.

As Nature-based Solutions gains relevance globally, experts, practitioners and communities in the Caribbean must find ways to embrace their potential for addressing interlinked biodiversity, climate and economic crises.

Our approach utilized the Group Model Building (GMB) method, which is part of the field of systems dynamics. GMB is rarely used in the field of climate change and nature-based solutions, though its use is particularly relevant due to the complexity and interconnectedness of climate change.

We are confident that our research can effectively contribute to the increasing discourse surrounding transdisciplinary research and systems-based solutions for coastal resilience.

The open-access paper can be viewed here. 

 

 

On September 10^th  2024, Research Assistant, Andrew Williams, represented the NBS-ENGROSSED project at the 38th International Conference on Coastal Engineering (ICCE) in Rome.

ICCE was held from the 8^th – 14^th of September at the Pontifical Gregorian University. The Conference is considered one of the most important international events in the field of coastal engineering and is aimed at sharing and promoting knowledge and innovation.

Sessions covered topics such as vegetation hydrodynamics, extreme weather events, compound coastal flooding, numerical wave modelling, sediment transport, shoreline modelling, run-up and machine learning and AI for coastal protection.

Andrew’s presentation was titled “Strengthening the Case for Nature-based Solutions in the Caribbean”.

The presentation highlighted the challenges faced by Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and stressed the importance of Nature-based Solutions, especially coral reefs, in building resilience along coastlines.

In particular, it discussed our project’s numerical modeling work, and how this approach can overcome the challenges faced by physical modeling. While physical models can offer valuable insights, they often face limitations in the range of parameters that can be tested, as well as wave reflection in a laboratory setting. 

Understanding how the different physical features of coral reefs impact wave attenuation is critical to effectively implementing Nature-based Solutions. Numerical modelling can address these limitations and contribute to better understanding the level of coastal protection coral reefs can offer. 

We are grateful for the opportunity to have attended and presented our work at the ICCE!

The NBS-ENGROSSED project team, led by Dr. Deborah Villarroel-Lamb of UWI’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, recently convened stakeholders from across the Caribbean to advance the adoption of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) in the region. The team hosted a two-day workshop aimed at identifying strategic intervention areas to facilitate the wider uptake of NbS throughout the Caribbean. Funding for the workshop was granted by Future Earth and Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility (CCRIF SPC). Future Earth is the funder of the broader NBS-ENGROSSED project which is part of the Program for Early-stage Grants Advancing Sustainability Science funded by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation’s Science Program and facilitated through the UWI’s Office of Global Affairs.  

Building on Foundational Insights 

This workshop followed an initial convening held in Panama in June 2023 during the Sustainability Research and Innovation Congress (SRI) which was also supported by Future Earth. At the June 2023 event, the team focused on identifying barriers to the uptake of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) in the Caribbean. This year’s gathering was designed to deepen these discussions, bringing together experts and practitioners to collaboratively map out actionable strategies for enhancing NbS adoption. 

A Cohesive Regional Effort 

The workshop commenced with welcome remarks provided by Ms. Lois St Brice on behalf of PVC Sandrea Maynard of the Office of Global Affairs, Ms. Gina Sanguinetti Phillips who is a Consultant with the Technical Assistance Manager and Corporate Communications Manager teams for CCRIF SPC and Dr. Erica Key who is the Global Hub Director, USA Hub, Future Earth.

The workshop brought together prominent regional organizations such as The University of the West Indies (Mona and Cave Hill campuses), University of Guyana, University of Suriname, National Environment and Planning Agency (Jamaica), Saint Lucia National Trust, Environmental Awareness Group (Antigua and Barbuda), Smith Warner International, Association of Protected Area Management Organizations (Belize), Conservation International Guyana, The Nature Conservancy, Caribbean Biodiversity Fund, Sustainable Grenadines, and the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance, among others. 

Locally-based stakeholders included The University of Trinidad and Tobago, Environmental Management Authority, Nature Seekers, Ministry of Planning and Development, Coastal Protection Unit, Water Resources Agency, Coastal Dynamics, Ansa Merchant Bank’s Natural Capital Hub, and the Institute of Marine Affairs, among others.  

 Towards a Sustainable Future 

Some key takeaways include the need for improved transdisciplinary, trans-sectoral and multi-level engagements to enhance the understanding of what is needed and where to intervene to promote NbS. The project team looks forward to continued collaboration with stakeholders in furthering the development and implementation of Nature-based Solutions across the wider Caribbean, and also to safeguard and enhance lives, economies and ecosystems across the region.

The workshop’s summary can be viewed right here.

 

Principal Investigator, Dr. Deborah Villarroel-Lamb, recently traveled to Imperial College in London, UK, to conduct coral reef experiments in their wave laboratory. Imperial College houses an impressive 40-foot flume, which was a delight to utilize. 

The experiments aimed to measure how the rugosity (roughness and structural complexity) of coral reefs in the Caribbean affect wave characteristics under climate change scenarios. In particular, we measured its effect at the reef crest (highest point of the reef) and the forereef (seaward facing). We utilized an experimental scale of 1:30. 

We 3D printed a diversity of coral species to simulate the actual reef characteristics as best as possible. Dominant species on Buccoo Reef include elkhorn, staghorn, brain and finger corals.  To simulate sea level rise and storm surges associated with climate change, we conducted the experiments at different water depths and wave conditions, also utilizing linear and non-linear (random) waves.

Coral reefs in the Caribbean are highly diverse; we decided to model them after the Buccoo Reef in Trinidad and Tobago, which is not only experiencing climatic effects, but also the effects of unsustainable development, including point and non-point source pollution, and physical damage from activities associated with tourism, which is the island’s main economic driver.  

We anticipate that these experiments will help us to understand how these characteristics of coral reef ecosystems can be integrated into the design of engineered Nature-based Solutions.

Mangroves are critical to the protection of Caribbean coastlines from the effects of climate change. They act as a natural barrier and buffer, absorbing and attenuating energy on the shoreline during intense hurricanes and storm surges. However, mangroves in the Caribbean are threatened by climate change, unsustainable coastal development, and pollution. For nature-based solutions to deliver on their promise to provide co-benefits for local communities, economies and nature, a wide range of actors must be involved in their research, development and implementation. For coastal engineers, this can look like quantifying the given levels of protection that mangrove forests offer, in order to design and build structures that not only complement the coastal protection they provide, but also support their conservation, restoration and/or rehabilitation.

Four species of mangrove inhabit the Caribbean. They are commonly known as red, black, white and buttonwood mangroves. Red mangroves are typically the most seaward and the first line of defense against hurricanes and storm surges. Their complex network of stilt roots, distinct to the species, are responsible for much of the attenuating capacity that is important to us. Their interwoven root network provides a sturdy yet flexible shield that buffers strong wind and wave energy and holds soil and sediment together.

In order to fully investigate the integration of mangroves into nature-based solutions, we have implemented a series of laboratory experiments using a physical model of the mangroves. Our model is being tested against different wave conditions and water levels to account for phenomena associated with climate change, like sea level rise and storm surges. We designed the mangrove models to scale, using field observations and literature reviews. To create a structure that replicates both the rigidity and flexibility of mangroves, we used a combination of PVC and wire. The roots were secured to an aluminum plate to simulate the anchoring effect of soil. The tests are currently being run in the wave flume in the Coastal Laboratory at the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus.

Our preliminary findings indicate that the mangrove models significantly influence wave patterns and sediment distribution, demonstrating the potential of generating guidelines for nature-based engineering solutions. Through a thorough data analysis, we aim to establish clear relationships between the characteristics of mangroves and their effects on wave hydrodynamics and sediment transport. These insights can then be applied to real-world scenarios to predict how existing mangroves might respond to extreme events and design nature-inspired structures that can mitigate the effects of current and future climate change events in the Caribbean. 

See the video for some experimental wave action in the lab!

In April 2024, Research Assistants, Andrew and Simone, went on a field trip to two sites in Tobago to observe the mangroves as the project team prepares to model them in the laboratory. Mangroves in Trinidad and Tobago fall within the Amazon-Orinoco-Maranhao mangrove complex in the Orinoco bioregion. According to Juman and Hassanali (2013), mangroves cover approximately 2km² of land in Tobago. Four species of mangroves are found in Tobago: Rhizophora mangle (red mangrove), Laguncularia racemosa (white mangrove), Avicennia germinans (black mangrove) and Conocarpus erectus (buttonwood mangrove). 

 

 

Observations took place at Petit Trou, where there is a boardwalk for recreational activity, and Little Rockly Bay (Lambeau). Red mangroves were predominantly visible at Petit Trou, and red, white and black were observed at Little Rockly Bay. There were several areas of dieback at both sites, presumably due to pollution and sediment accumulation. Where dieback of red mangroves was observed at Little Rockly Bay, white mangroves were observed to be establishing themselves. In addition, the impacts of the diesel spill that took place in February 2024 were also observed at both sites.

 

The island’s economy relies heavily on the coastal ecosystems present; over 80% of economic activity is situated in the coastal zone. Mangroves within the Buccoo Reef-Bon Accord Lagoon Complex are protected under the Marine Areas (Restricted Area) Order of the Marine Area (Preservation and Enhancement) Act of 1970. This area is also a designated Ramsar site. The other mangrove forests located at Petit Trou, Friendship, Little Rockly Bay and Kilgwyn are unprotected. Despite legislative protection and the importance of mangroves to the island’s economy, mangroves have been and continue to be impacted by human activities, specifically land clearing and pollution, leaving them susceptible to decline and disappearance.

Special thanks to Howard Robin at the Tobago House of Assembly’s Coastal Zone Management Unit for accompanying and assisting us on the trip.

 

Reference:

Juman, Rahanna, and Kahlil Hassanali. “Mangrove Conservation in Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies.” Mangrove Ecosystems: Biogeography, Genetic Diversity and Conservation Strategies (2013).

Drone Imagery gives a point of view of an area that cannot be seen from a human’s normal point of view and is captured by Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) (otherwise known as drones) with cameras mounted to them. The application of drone imagery has become popular in several fields of study because of their ability to provide detailed visual information from angles and elevations that are difficult to achieve with traditional methods of image capture. Drones have been proven to be cost- effective and provide high quality imagery in a short time period.

 

For the NBS-ENGROSSED project, camera systems capturing beach data need to be situated on the coastline at a location that is not densely populated, has a good panoramic view of the coastline, and can also capture control points on the ground. For these reasons, capturing drone imagery of the entire beach will help us to determine the possible locations for these video cameras and ascertain the camera’s point of view, which will guide the selection of suitable control points.

At Pigeon Point Beach and the Magdalena Grand Beach and Golf Resort in Tobago, drone surveys were conducted to attain a nadir point of view of the beaches. The drone was elevated to different possible heights, and still images and video were taken to determine the view of potential elevations of the planned beach camera system. This will help us to determine the most ideal camera location which will enable us to maximize the camera’s view of the coastline and improve the overall quality of data collection.

Project Lead Investigator, Dr. Deborah Villarroel-Lamb, recently sat with Derval Barzey of the Climate Conscious Podcast to discuss what it might take for coastal resilience to be achieved in the Caribbean in the face of climate change. The podcast episode is available on all major streaming platforms, including BuzzSprout and Apple Podcasts. Listen here: