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About this episode

Kimberly Burnett presenting. In contrast to multidisciplinary research, which delivers largely separate analyses on the same subject matter, sustainability science is transdisciplinary, organizing research to deliver meaningful contributions to critical issues of resource management and public policy. Our approach aims to provide immediate recommendations for groundwater management and watershed conservation investments and a management framework that allows for changes in climate, ecology, and public policies. By quantifying the linkages between conservation, water balance, and ecosystem services, the framework can identify priority watersheds for initiatives such as the federally-mandated Hawaii Assessment of Forest Conditions and Resource Strategy. Climate change and damages to the watershed (e.g. feral ungulates, fire, invasive plant species, and human impacts) change both the amounts and distribution of rainfall into runoff, recharge to the aquifer, and evapotranspiration, in turn changing aquifer head levels, erosion levels, and ecosystem characteristics. Efficient management of the watershed system requires addressing the threats through implementation of conservation instruments. It is the quantity and timing of these instruments that will determine the ultimate consequences and direct conservation funds towards the activities that will reap the highest net benefit.

• Release Date

  Aug 5, 2009

• Runtime

  14:33