Climate-Responsive Coastal Design: Mangrove-Based Urban Resilience in Port Vila, Vanuatu

Coastal urban areas are at the forefront of climate change impacts, particularly where ecological fragility intersects with rapid urban growth. Major climate-related threats such as sea-level rise, tropical cyclones, and the deterioration of coastal ecosystems pose growing climate dangers to coastal communities throughout the world, particularly in the South Pacific. In island capitals like Port Vila, Vanuatu, where urban expansion takes place along restricted coastal zones that are extremely vulnerable to environmental risks, these pressures are especially severe. This chapter looks at how mangrove restoration might serve as a type of urban infrastructure that improves climate resilience. To assess the environmental, socioeconomic, and institutional aspects of ecosystem-based coastal resilience, the study uses Port Vila as a case study and employs a mixed methodology framework that combines geographical analysis, policy review, and qualitative observations. The analysis demonstrates how mangrove forests support community livelihoods, stabilise shorelines, and prevent coastal erosion, attenuate waves, and restore biodiversity. The chapter also addresses policy coordination concerns, land-use pressures, and governance challenges that affect the incorporation of ecological infrastructure into urban planning systems. The results show that mangrove-based protection can enhance traditional engineering strategies while providing coastal cities with adaptable and multipurpose advantages. The chapter concludes by identifying key lessons for Pacific Island contexts, emphasising the importance of aligning ecosystem restoration, urban planning, and community participation to support long-term climate-responsive coastal resilience.