ABSTRACT
Abstract: The complex geophysical environment of the Rio de la Plata basin in Uruguay is under stress from existing pressures such as changing hydro-climatic and wind regimes, sea-level rise, extreme events, growing population, and associated increases in development. This chapter presents the emerging lessons learned from ongoing work undertaken on coastal climate change vulnerability and adaptation in Uruguay (Climate Change Adaptation Project) and implemented through an integrated coastal zone management framework (EcoPlata Program), which provides a strategy on coastal governance. The case study describes a four-stage methodology, across a range of spatial scales, including a risk-based approach to assessing impact; geophysical modeling; a stakeholder-driven Vulnerability Reduction Assessment; and multicriteria approaches to adaptation within a participatory bottom-up and top-down process. Effective coastal adaptation in Uruguay requires that technical knowledge be merged with lessons learnt through an adaptive management cycle to meet both short-term decision objectives and long-term adaptation goals.
