Browsing by Author "Browning, Trevor N."

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2

Ecohydrological disturbances associated with roads: current knowledge, research needs, and management concerns with reference to the tropics
(2018) Wemple , Beverley C.; Browning, Trevor N.; Ziegler, Alan D.; Celi Cruz, Jorge Luis; Chun Sun, Kwak Pan; Jaramillo Carvajal, Flavio Fernando; Leite, Nei K.; Ramchunder, Sorain J.; Negish, Junjiro N.; Palomeque Pesántez, Fanny Ximena; Sawyer, Derek; Palomeque Pesántez, Fanny Ximena
Roads are a pervasive form of disturbance with potential to negatively affect ecohydrological processes. Some of the fastest and most rapid growth is occurring in developing countries, particularly in the tropics, where political agendas are often focused on strengthening the economy, improving infrastructure, bolstering national security, achieving self-sufficiency, and increasing citizen well-being, often at the expense of the environment. We review what is known about road impacts on ecohydrological processes, focusing on aquatic systems, both temperate and tropical. We present seven cases that represent the broader trends of road development and impacts in tropical settings. Many of these process dynamics and impacts are not different from those experienced in temperate settings, although the magnitude of impacts in the tropics may be amplified with intense rainfall and lack of best-management practices applied to road construction/maintenance. Impacts of roads in tropical settings may also be unique because of particular organisms or ecosystems effected. We outline a set of best practices to improve road-network management and provide recommendations for adopting an agenda of research and road management in tropical settings. Importantly, we call for incorporation of transdisciplinary approaches to further study of the effects of roads on ecohydrological processes in the tropics. Specific emphasis should also be placed on collaboration with governments and developers that are championing road development to help identify the drivers of road expansion and thresholds of negative impact, as well as methods of sustainable road construction and maintenance.
Watershed services in the Humid tropics: opportunities from recent advances in ecohydrology
(FAPESP, 2018) Hamel, Perrine; Riveros Iregui, Diego; Ballari, Daniela Elisabet; Browning, Trevor N.; Célleri Alvear, Rolando Enrique; Chandler, David G.; Chun Sun, Kwak Pan; Destouni, Georgia; Jacobs, Suzanne R.; Scott, Jasechko; Johnson, Mark S.; Krishnaswamy, Jagdish; Poca, María; Pompeu, Patricia Vieira; Rocha, Humberto
In response to increasing pressures on water resources, watershed services management programs are implemented throughout the tropics. These programs aim to promote land management activities that enhance the quantity and quality of water available to local communities. The success of these programs hinges on our ability to (a) understand the impacts of watershed interventions on ecohydrology; (b) model these impacts and design efficient management programs; and (c) develop strategies to overcome barriers to practical policy development, including resource limitations or the absence of baseline data. In this paper, we review opportunities in ecohydrological science that will help address these three challenges. The opportunities are grouped into measurement techniques, modelling approaches, and access to resources in our hyperconnected world. We then assess management implications of both the knowledge gaps and the new research developments related to the effect of land management. Overall, we stress the importance of policy-relevant knowledge for implementing efficient and equitable watershed services programs in the tropics.