Integrated Vulnerability Assessments

The Colonial National Historical Park vulnerability assessment was published in 2019

Methods exist for conducting discrete vulnerability assessments for natural systems, cultural resources, and facilities. But park management decisions are often interdisciplinary—occurring across program areas and resource types. The National Park Service has partnered with the Coastal Resources Center of the University of Rhode Island to develop a standard method for conducting integrated coastal climate change vulnerability assessments [1.9 MB PDF].

Results from a pilot effort to apply this method at Colonial National Historical Park were published in 2019, and similar integrated vulnerability assessments have been completed—or are underway—at additional coastal parks. The results of this work help park managers identify and choose adaptation actions for priority vulnerable assets in light of key linkages across different resource types.

The following integrated coastal climate change vulnerability assessments are currently available:

• George Washington Birthplace National Monument vulnerability assessment (2024)
• Fire Island National Seashore vulnerability assessment (2020)
• Colonial National Historical Park vulnerability assessment (2019)