Thank you to everyone who came to the workshops for professional stakeholders on May 8th and 9th. Twenty-six professionals in the fields of natural resources, ecotourism, and local government participated. The workshop agenda was:

• Welcome by Dr. Michael Shirley, Director of the GTM Research Reserve
• Participant keypad polling led by Ms. Emily Montgomery, Coastal Training Program Coordinator for the GTM Research Reserve
• Project Introduction, Findings and Strategies by Dr. Dawn Jourdan, Project Collaboration Lead, and Dr. Kathryn Frank , Principal Investigator
• Sea level rise simulation videos
• Matanzas Basin Vision large group exercise led by Emily Montgomery
• Adaptation Strategies Role-Play Game small group exercise

Participants had a lot of fun playing the adaptation strategies game, because it enabled them to take on professional personas different from their own. We appreciate participants time and effort, especially since the highly interactive format allowed us to capture important concerns and ideas.

The results from one professional workshop’s visioning exercise showing participants’ opinions about important features and functions of the Matanzas Basin, and ways to ensure effective sea level rise planning. The red stickers indicate top priorities.

The project team will summarize and statistically analyze participants’ adaptation planning preferences. The results will be added to, and compared with, the preferences from other stakeholder workshops. The information will inform the next phase of the project to develop future land use scenarios and an adaptation strategies toolbox for the Matanzas area.

The last professional workshop for developers, real estate and local businesses will be held at the GTM Research Reserve’s Marineland office on June 4th, 12:00-3:00 p.m. Lunch will be provided. Please see the link above to RSVP.