Focus Groups Help Communities Plan for Sea-Level Rise

Virginia Beach waterfront. ©Protoant
Virginia Beach waterfront. ©Protoant

This is the second phase of a project begun in 2009 by the University of Virginia Institute for Environmental Negotiation (IEN). The IEN’s Tanya Denckla Cobb and students are working with coastal Virginia Communities to assess and discuss public attitudes toward planning and policies to address sea-level rise. In phase one, the team held listening sessions in Virginia Beach. Phase two involves conducting focus groups and public meetings in three parts of coastal Virginia: Virginia Beach, the Middle Peninsula, and the Eastern Shore. Focus group discussions are tailored to each community to help bring together a variety of stakeholders to engage in a dialogue on doable next steps and tools for addressing sea level rise.

Project Details: Tanya Denckla Cobb (University of Virginia Institute for Environmental Negotiation), Clay Bernick (City of Virginia Beach), Carl Hershner (VIMS), Lewis Lawrence (MPPDC), Benjamin McFarlane (Hampton Roads PDC), Art Schwartzchild (UVA), Curtis Smith (Accomack-Northhampton PDC), Skip Styles (Wetlands Watch). Planning for Virginia’s Coastal Resilience to Address Sea Level Rise.

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