Abstract for:Assessment of the health and resilience of coral reefs and the associated benefits to the community well-being in a changing climate

Marine ecosystems of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) provide a crucial foundation for its local community’s well-being. A realistic perception of the linkage between marine ecosystem services and the level of human well-being, particularly under changing climate conditions, can provide decision and policy makers with a holistic understanding of the influencing factors in the process of planning. SIDS have rapidly growing populations, fragile environments and high exposure to natural hazards combined with challenges to economic growth as a result of remoteness adding significantly to the cost of trade. Tanna is a small island located in the south Pacific Ocean and is one of the most populous islands of the state of Vanuatu belongs to SIDS. It is being impacted by the adverse impacts of climate change as well as other non-climatic pressures. Coral reefs’ health plays an important role and has direct and indirect impacts on Tanna’s local life, and is extremely vulnerable to climatic and anthropogenic pressures which mandate particular attention and study. This paper presents an integrated dynamic modelling framework for the assessment of health and resilience of coral reefs and the consequent impacts on community wellbeing under different climate scenarios with coupling two approaches; structural analysis and system dynamics modelling.