Scholarly Works, Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation

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Research articles, presentations, and other scholarship

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The genetic architecture of repeated local adaptation to climate in distantly related plants
Whiting, James R.; Booker, Tom R.; Rougeux, Clement; Lind, Brandon M.; Singh, Pooja; Lu, Mengmeng; Huang, Kaichi; Whitlock, Michael C.; Aitken, Sally N.; Andrew, Rose L.; Borevitz, Justin O.; Bruhl, Jeremy J.; Collins, Timothy L.; Fischer, Martin C.; Hodgins, Kathryn A.; Holliday, Jason A.; Ingvarsson, Par K.; Janes, Jasmine K.; Khandaker, Momena; Koenig, Daniel; Kreiner, Julia M.; Kremer, Antoine; Lascoux, Martin; Leroy, Thibault; Milesi, Pascal; Murray, Kevin D.; Pyhajarvi, Tanja; Rellstab, Christian; Rieseberg, Loren H.; Roux, Fabrice; Stinchcombe, John R.; Telford, Ian R. H.; Todesco, Marco; Tyrmi, Jaakko S.; Wang, Baosheng; Weigel, Detlef; Willi, Yvonne; Wright, Stephen I.; Zhou, Lecong; Yeaman, Sam (Nature Portfolio, 2024-10-01)
Closely related species often use the same genes to adapt to similar environments. However, we know little about why such genes possess increased adaptive potential and whether this is conserved across deeper evolutionary lineages. Adaptation to climate presents a natural laboratory to test these ideas, as even distantly related species must contend with similar stresses. Here, we re-analyse genomic data from thousands of individuals from 25 plant species as diverged as lodgepole pine and Arabidopsis (similar to 300 Myr). We test for genetic repeatability based on within-species associations between allele frequencies in genes and variation in 21 climate variables. Our results demonstrate significant statistical evidence for genetic repeatability across deep time that is not expected under randomness, identifying a suite of 108 gene families (orthogroups) and gene functions that repeatedly drive local adaptation to climate. This set includes many orthogroups with well-known functions in abiotic stress response. Using gene co-expression networks to quantify pleiotropy, we find that orthogroups with stronger evidence for repeatability exhibit greater network centrality and broader expression across tissues (higher pleiotropy), contrary to the 'cost of complexity' theory. These gene families may be important in helping wild and crop species cope with future climate change, representing important candidates for future study.
Forest dynamics and ecosystem collapse in open-access problems
Cobourn, Kelly M.; Amacher, Gregory S.; Delacote, Philippe; Wang, Haoyu (Cambridge University Press, 2025-08-29)
Changes like the shift of tropical forests into savannah in the Amazon highlight the potential for deforestation to drive ecosystems past potentially irreversible tipping points. Reforestation may avert or delay tipping points, but its success depends on the degree to which secondary and primary forests are substitutes in the production of ecosystem services. This article explores how deforestation, reforestation and substitutability between forest types affect the likelihood that a forest system will cross a tipping point. Efforts to ensure that secondary forests better mimic primary forests only yield a small improvement in terms of delaying ecosystem collapse. The most significant effects on tipping points arise from an increase in the relative costs of clearing primary forests or a decrease in the costs of protecting land tenure in secondary forests. Our results highlight the importance of the latter, which are often ignored as a policy target, to reduce the risk of ecosystem collapse.
Red spruce forest stand structure and Virginia northern flying squirrel habitat suitability
Humbert, Tanner R.; McKellips, Abigail W.; Carter, David R.; Green, P. Corey; De La Cruz, Jesse L.; Diggins, Corinne A.; Ford, W. Mark (Wiley, 2025-10-20)
The Virginia northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus fuscus; VNFS) is a rare, Pleistocene-relict, disjunct subspecies of the northern flying squirrel. The squirrel occurs only in high-elevation red spruce (Picea rubens) forests of the central Appalachian Mountains of Virginia and West Virginia—a forest type that was substantially reduced by exploitative logging and wildfire in the 1890s–1930. Owing to its cryptic nature and difficulty of capture, managers have relied on an evolving series of predicted habitat suitability models that primarily have used topographic measures and red spruce cover class to assess potential occupancy on the landscape. Currently, VNFS is considered the sentinel species in the region whereby its predicted presence indicates red spruce forests with higher relative habitat integrity, and unsuitable habitat highlights where red spruce restoration or enhancement should occur. However, extant VNFS models only use red spruce percent composition and do not provide insights into forest structure, such as forest canopy height or basal area, that are needed by managers to implement restoration or assess effectiveness. We examined recent historical VNFS observations from nest-box surveys and radiotelemetry data (natural dens and foraging points) relative to random pseudoabsence points across red spruce cover classes from the most current VNFS predicted probability habitat model. Using generalized linear models in an information-theoretic approach, we found that within each red spruce composition class, suitable VNFS habitat was related to increased forest canopy height (m), basal area (m2·ha−1), quadratic mean diameter (cm), and stem density (number of trees ha−1), indicating that, within red spruce and mixed red spruce–northern hardwood forests, VNFS is associated most with mature forest conditions. Accordingly, our results could be recombined with habitat suitability models to prioritize where, for example, red spruce forest structural enhancement would facilitate shifting a given stand to a higher probability condition for VNFS use.
CO2 and CH4 Concentrations in Headwater Wetlands Influenced by Morphology and Changing Hydro-Biogeochemical Conditions
Lloreda, Carla Lopez; Maze, James; Wardinski, Katherine; Corline, Nicholas; Mclaughlin, Daniel; Jones, C. Nathan; Scott, Durelle; Palmer, Margaret; Hotchkiss, Erin R. (Springer, 2024-11-01)
Headwater wetlands are important sites for carbon storage and emissions. While local- and landscape-scale factors are known to influence wetland carbon biogeochemistry, the spatial and temporal heterogeneity of these factors limits our predictive understanding of wetland carbon dynamics. To address this issue, we examined relationships between carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) concentrations with wetland hydrogeomorphology, water level, and biogeochemical conditions. We sampled water chemistry and dissolved gases (CO2 and CH4) and monitored continuous water level at 20 wetlands and co-located upland wells in the Delmarva Peninsula, Maryland, every 1-3 months for 2 years. We also obtained wetland hydrogeomorphologic metrics at maximum inundation (area, perimeter, and volume). Wetlands in our study were supersaturated with CO2 (mean = 315 mu M) and CH4 (mean = 15 mu M), highlighting their potential role as carbon sources to the atmosphere. Spatial and temporal variability in CO2 and CH4 concentrations was high, particularly for CH4, and both gases were more spatially variable than temporally. We found that groundwater is a potential source of CO2 in wetlands and CO2 decreases with increased water level. In contrast, CH4 concentrations appear to be related to substrate and nutrient availability and to drying patterns over a longer temporal scale. At the landscape scale, wetlands with higher perimeter:area ratios and wetlands with higher height above the nearest drainage had higher CO2 and CH4 concentrations. Understanding the variability of CO2 and CH4 in wetlands, and how these might change with changing environmental conditions and across different wetland types, is critical to understanding the current and future role of wetlands in the global carbon cycle.
Tree diversity across the Minneapolis-St. Paul Metropolitan Area in relation to climate and social vulnerability
Keller, Adrienne B.; Brandt, Leslie A.; Cavender-Bares, Jeannine; Knight, Joseph F.; Hobbie, Sarah E. (Wiley, 2024-12-01)
Urban tree canopy cover is often unequally distributed across cities such that more socially vulnerable neighborhoods often have lower tree canopy cover than less socially vulnerable neighborhoods. However, how the diversity and composition of the urban canopy affect the nature of social-ecological benefits (and burdens), including the urban forest's vulnerability to climate change, remains underexamined. Here, we synthesize tree inventories developed by multiple organizations and present a species-specific, geolocated database of more than 600,000 urban trees across the 7-county Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) metropolitan area in the Upper Midwest of the United States. We find that tree diversity across the MSP is variable yet dominated by a few species (e.g., Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Acer platanoides, and Gleditsia triacanthos), contributing to the vulnerability of the MSP urban forest to future climate change and disturbances. In contrast to tree canopy cover, tree diversity was not well predicted by socioeconomic or demographic factors. However, our analysis identified areas where both climate and social vulnerability are high. Our results add to a growing body of literature emphasizing the importance of considering how complex and interacting social and ecological factors drive urban forest diversity and composition when pursuing management objectives.
Current constraints to reconcile tropical forest restoration and bioeconomy
Krainovic, Pedro Medrado; Brandao, Diego Oliveira; Resende, Angelica Faria; Schons, Stella Z.; Munhoz, Leonardo; Metzger, Jean Paul; Nascimento, Nathalia C.; Rodrigues, Ricardo Ribeiro; Brancalion, Pedro H. S.; Guillemot, Joannes; de-Miguel, Sergio (Springer, 2025-01-01)
Large-scale forest restoration is vital for delivering a broad array of ecosystem services benefits to society. However, it is often perceived as an economically noncompetitive land use choice. Integrating economic opportunities into restoration aligns socioeconomic and environmental goals, reducing conflicts between forest production and conservation-oriented management decisions. Supply chains focusing on high-value goods can enhance the reach of forest restoration efforts and unite ecological and economic benefits in a multifunctional manner. The bioeconomy has emerged as a potential but critical driver for attracting investments in restoration. We outline the challenges and solutions to reconcile forest restoration and bioeconomy, specifically about (i) native timber production, (ii) non-timber forest products, (iii) biotechnological products, and (iv) intangible ecosystem services. This requires collaborative and multidisciplinary efforts to improve investment in large-scale projects. The intricacies of these issues intersect with research development, market dynamics, legal frameworks, and regulatory paradigms, underscoring the necessity for nuanced and tailored public policy interventions. These integrated approaches should enable tropical countries to lead the global forest-based economy and usher in a new era of forest restoration.
Unleash the power of values: how to conduct better science and cultivate thriving research groups
Schoenle, Laura A.; O'Brien, Caleb; Brousseau, Jennifer; Wendler, Amber (Springer, 2025-06-01)
It is undesirable - and perhaps impossible - for scientific research to be value-free. In fact, scientists can enhance their research and build more engaged, motivated, and well-functioning research groups by reflecting on their values and intentionally embedding values into all aspects of their research (e.g., choice of research question, funding sources, methodology). Here, we posit that values shape the scientific process and interpersonal dynamics within research groups. We then provide concrete steps to embed values into research by using tools such as values statements, mentoring expectations agreements, and lab handbooks. Finally, we provide a framework for culture-building activities that can encourage productive and fulfilling interactions among all research group members.
Advancing Bioresource Utilization to Incentivize a Sustainable Bioeconomy: A Systematic Review and Proposal of the Enhanced Bioresource Utilization Index
Ugwu, Collins O.; Berry, Michael D.; Winans, Kiara S. (MDPI, 2025-09-03)
Over 15 billion tonnes year⁻¹ of biomass is used globally, yet 14% is downcycled for energy, forfeiting billions in potential revenue for higher-value products. Robust metrics that couple cascading use with cradle-to-gate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and economic value are essential for identifying superior biomass pathways. The aim of this review is to systematically map biomass utilization indicators published between 2010 and 2025; compare their treatment regarding circularity, climate, and economic value; and introduce the enhanced Bioresource Utilization Index (eBUI). A PRISMA-aligned search of Scopus and Web of Science yielded 80,808 records, of which 33 met the eligibility criteria. Each indicator was scored on cascading, data intensity, and environmental and economic integration, as well as computational complexity and sector scope. The Material Circularity Indicator, Biomass Utilization Efficiency, the Biomass Utilization Factor, and legacy BUI satisfied no more than two criteria simultaneously, and none directly linked mass flows to both GHG emissions and net revenue. The eBUI concept integrates mass balance, lifecycle carbon intensity, and value coefficients into a single 0–1 score. An open-access calculator and data quality checklist accompany the metric, enabling policymakers and industry to prioritize biomass pathways that are circular, climate-smart, and economically attractive.
Lifting the profile of deep soil carbon in New Zealand’s managed planted forests
Garrett, Loretta G.; Heckman, Katherine A.; Possinger, Angela R.; Strahm, Brian D.; Hatten, Jeff A.; Fields, Fiona P.; Wakelin, Steve A. (2025-08-14)
Background: Forest soils are a globally significant carbon-store, including in deep layers (> 30 cm depth). However, there is high uncertainty regarding the response of deep soil organic carbon (DSOC) to climate change and the resulting impact on the total OC budget for forest ecosystems. Managed forests have an opportunity to reduce the risk of DSOC loss with climate change, however, the basic understanding of DSOC is lacking. Planted forests in New Zealand are managed with very limited knowledge of DSOC, both in the amount and the capacity of the soil to continue to store carbon with climate change. In this study, we explore DSOC stocks to at least 2 m depth at 15 planted forest sties in New Zealand. We also explore DSOC radiocarbon age and soil mineralogy, then contextualise our results within international SOC datasets and climate change vulnerability frameworks to identify research priorities for New Zealand’s planted forest soils. Results: DSOC stocks and soil mineralogy in New Zealand’s planted forests were diverse both horizontally across soil types and vertically throughout the soil profile. Critically, limiting measurements of SOC to the top 30 cm misses more than half of the SOC stocks present to at least 2 m depth (mean 57%; range 33–72%). At depth, mineral-associated OC was the dominant fraction of DSOC (average > 90%) and was on average much older (> 1000 years) than the current planted forest land use (< 100 years). Conclusions: This small case study highlights that New Zealand’s planted forests contain substantial stocks of DSOC, much of which is older than the current forest land use. The deep soils were dominated by reactive metals, and although the age of DSOC suggest long-term stability, the large contribution of reactive metal-mediated SOC stabilisation may indicate vulnerability to warming soil temperatures relative to other climate change factors. There is a pressing need to expand soil sampling to greater depths and establish a robust SOC baseline for New Zealand’s planted forests. This is essential for enabling spatial predictions of DSOC dynamics under future climate scenarios, identify the key controls on DSOC persistence, and concomitant impacts on forest ecosystem function and resilience.
Warming air temperatures alter the timing and magnitude of reservoir zooplankton biomass
Wander, Heather L.; Lofton, Mary E.; Doubek, Jonathan P.; Howard, Dexter W.; Hipsey, Matthew R.; Thomas, R. Quinn; Carey, Cayelan C. (2025-10-01)
Warming air temperatures are altering many physical, chemical, and biological processes in freshwater ecosystems. Process-based ecosystem models are important tools for predicting potential future changes to water quality due to warming by simulating complex ecological interactions. However, while previous studies have modeled climate-driven impacts on water quality (e.g., water temperature, dissolved oxygen, phytoplankton), few have included zooplankton, despite their critical role in freshwater ecosystems. Zooplankton functional groups can exhibit variable responses to warming temperatures, but the implications of these responses on freshwater ecosystems are not well understood. To understand the effects of warming on reservoir zooplankton and water quality, we configured and calibrated a process-based freshwater ecosystem model simulating three zooplankton functional groups and then applied multiple air temperature scenarios to explore ecosystem responses. We found that warming air temperature increased modeled rotifer biomass and decreased modeled cladoceran and copepod biomass. While the timing of annual rotifer peak biomass was not altered by warming air temperatures, annual copepod biomass peaks were delayed by 54–100 days within a year across warming scenarios. The timing of cladoceran biomass peaks was more variable in response to warming. Changes to the timing and magnitude of modeled zooplankton biomass were likely driven by changes in nutrients and phytoplankton, as we observed a trophic mismatch between phytoplankton and zooplankton biomass. These results highlight the importance of including zooplankton functional groups in process-based models when exploring the future effects of climate change on freshwater ecosystems, as changes in zooplankton communities can directly and indirectly alter ecosystem dynamics.
Model error propagation in a compatible tree volume, biomass, and carbon prediction system
Westfall, James A.; Radtke, Philip J.; Walker, David M.; Coulston, John W. (2025-06-10)
Background: Individual tree attributes such as volume, biomass and carbon mass are widely known to be highly correlated. As these attributes are typically predicted from statistical models, frameworks that provide compatible relationships among these attributes are usually preferred over approaches that provide independent predictions. However, the propagation of model error can be a concern as this compatibility often relies on predictions for one attribute providing the basis for other attributes. In this study, a compatible tree volume, biomass, and carbon prediction system was evaluated to ascertain how model prediction uncertainty propagates through the system and to examine the contribution to uncertainty in population estimates. Results: Generally, the total and merchantable stem volume predictions are used to derive associated biomass values and subsequently biomass is converted to carbon. As expected, the amount of uncertainty due to the models follows volume < biomass < carbon such that the carbon attribute is the most affected by error propagation. Biomass and associated carbon in tree branches tended to have larger model uncertainty than the stem components due to smaller sample sizes and a greater proportion of unexplained variation. In this model system, direct predictions of whole tree biomass provide the biomass basis and stem and branch components are harmonized to sum to the whole tree value. Corresponding harmonized carbon content values are obtained through application of a common carbon fraction. As such, whole tree biomass and carbon tended to have less model uncertainty than the constituent components primarily due to fewer contributing sources. Conclusions: Although a wide range of outcomes are realized across the various volume, biomass, and carbon components, increases in the standard error of the population estimate due to model uncertainty were always less than 5% and usually smaller than 3%. Thus, forest inventory data users desiring population estimates of tree volume, biomass, and carbon can expect little additional uncertainty due to the prediction model system while benefitting from the implicit compatibility among attributes.
New Occurrence Records for the Southern Plains Bumblebee, Bombus fraternus Smith, 1854 (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Apinae), in Virginia
Weber, Jennifer M.; Emrick, Verl III; Coates, T. Adam (Virginia Natural History Society, 2025-03-06)
The Southern Plains Bumblebee (Bombus fraternus Smith, 1854) is a bumblebee species that commonly occurs in grassland and open habitats in the Southeastern and Great Plains regions of the United States. The species is thought to be in decline due to habitat loss/alteration, widespread pesticide use, and other factors. This bumblebee species was originally assumed to be restricted to the southeastern portion of Virginia in recent times, though historically was found along the eastern coast of the United States. Here we report the collections of individuals from two locations with no previous records of the species with descriptions of the characters used to identify the specimens.
Foliar nutrient concentrations and stoichiometry should not be assumed to diagnose nutrient limitation
Binkley, Dan; Stape, José L.; Albaugh, Timothy J. (Springer Open, 2025-03-11)
Nutrient concentrations in foliage are often used to infer whether growth of a species at a particular site is likely limited by low supply of soil nutrients. Sometimes ratios of nutrient elements (stoichiometry) are thought to be useful, as if a higher supply of one element might somehow physiologically alleviate, or interfere with, a low supply of another. The growth of most forests is indeed commonly limited by low supplies of nutrients in soils, but foliar chemistry has proven unable to discern nutrient limitations. We illustrate this conclusion using two large, regional experiments with Eucalyptus in Brazil and loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) in the southeastern USA. In both cases, most sites showed profitable increases in growth after fertilization, and nutrient concentrations in foliage differed substantially across sites. However, foliar nutrient concentrations (and stoichiometric ratios) did not provide useful information about forest growth responses. We urge authors, reviewers, and editors not to expect foliar chemistry to be a useful tool for diagnosing nutrient limitations in forests, unless strong, local evidence demonstrates a reliable association.
A framework for developing a real-time lake phytoplankton forecasting system to support water quality management in the face of global change
Carey, Cayelan C.; Calder, Ryan S. D.; Figueiredo, Renato J.; Gramacy, Robert B.; Lofton, Mary E.; Schreiber, Madeline E.; Thomas, R. Quinn (Springer, 2024-09-20)
Phytoplankton blooms create harmful toxins, scums, and taste and odor compounds and thus pose a major risk to drinking water safety. Climate and land use change are increasing the frequency and severity of blooms, motivating the development of new approaches for preemptive, rather than reactive, water management. While several real-time phytoplankton forecasts have been developed to date, none are both automated and quantify uncertainty in their predictions, which is critical for manager use. In response to this need, we outline a framework for developing the first automated, real-time lake phytoplankton forecasting system that quantifies uncertainty, thereby enabling managers to adapt operations and mitigate blooms. Implementation of this system calls for new, integrated ecosystem and statistical models; automated cyberinfrastructure; effective decision support tools; and training for forecasters and decision makers. We provide a research agenda for the creation of this system, as well as recommendations for developing real-time phytoplankton forecasts to support management.
Participant perspectives on effective elements and impacts of climate change adaptation workshops in the United States
O'Brien, Caleb; Stern, Marc J.; Brousseau, Jennifer J.; Hansen, Lara J.; Hull, R. Bruce (Elsevier, 2024-01)
Communities in the United States are increasingly relying on place-based climate adaptation workshops to aid attempts to prepare for—and cope with—climate change, but there is limited empirical evidence about what participants believe these workshops can achieve and what elements they find most valuable. To begin addressing this gap, we sought to understand participant perceptions of effective workshop elements and outcomes across a wide range of locations and workshop formats. We surveyed participants in 33 place-based adaptation workshops that took place in the United States between 2017 and 2020. We sought to understand participants’ perceptions of the outcomes of these workshops and the workshop elements that drove those outcomes. Results suggest that workshop participants commonly believed that they learned, strengthened their sense of efficacy, and deepened relationships with other workshop attendees. Participants identified specific climate actions resulting from the workshop, including knowledge dissemination efforts and project implementation. We argue that effective adaptation workshops can also expand reference groups and foster norms around climate change adaptation.
Availability and distribution of environmental education field trip programs for adolescent students in the U.S.: a national study of spatial accessibility
Hemby, Tyler L.; Powell, Robert B.; Stern, Marc J. (Routledge, 2023-07-24)
What is the availability and distribution of single-day environmental education field trip programs for adolescent students across the U.S.? We assessed the spatial accessibility to EE field trip programs for U.S. schools that serve grades 5-8 (ages 10-14) by (1) compiling a comprehensive national database of 2,930 EE providers that offer field trip programs, (2) identifying 89, 311 middle schools’ locations, student populations, and relevant demographic information, and (3) calculating drive times between schools and EE provider locations using a high-performance computing cluster. We then used the integrated Floating Catchment Area method to calculate each school’s relative spatial access to EE field trip providers. Results suggest that spatial access was highly spatially clustered, particularly around several geographic regions (coastal California metropolitan areas, the southern Rockies, northern Kentucky, North Carolina, the western shore of Lake Michigan, and the high-density, contiguous metropolitan areas of the Northeast). Spatial access was also strongly related to partisan lean and urbanity, with more rural, White, and Republican-leaning areas generally having significantly less spatial access to EE field trips.
Understanding how justice is considered in climate adaptation approaches: a qualitative review of climate adaptation plans
Brousseau, Jennifer J.; Stern, Marc J.; Pownall, Malia; Hansen, Lara J. (Routledge, 2024-08-04)
Despite a growing focus on climate justice, prior research has revealed scant details about how marginalised groups have been engaged in local climate adaptation processes. This study aims to understand how justice is considered in these processes through a qualitative review of climate adaptation plans and related documents from US municipalities. We reviewed 101 plans published between 2010 and 2021 using the three-dimensional framework of recognitional, distributional, and procedural justice. Overall, our findings revealed a stronger focus on recognitional and distributional justice than procedural. Recognitional justice mainly focused on who is most vulnerable to climate change and how, with most plans adopting a similar understanding of vulnerability. Plans less frequently acknowledged how historical injustices contribute to vulnerability. Distributional justice was addressed through adaptation strategies across six areas (e.g. health and safety, buildings, green infrastructure, professional development, food, and transit), focusing greater attention on expanding existing programmes than new initiatives. Little attention was given to the potential negative impacts of proposed strategies. Procedural justice was mainly considered through one-off opportunities, rather than more extensive engagement in decision-making. Most plans lacked implementation considerations, for justice or otherwise, but when included, details mainly focused on who would be involved and not how strategies would be implemented. These findings provide an array of approaches to incorporate justice in adaptation planning and support several considerations for developing future plans.
Climate adaptation as a team process: the role of place-based climate adaptation workshops in catalysing collective action
O'Brien, Caleb; Stern, Marc J.; Brousseau, Jennifer J.; Hansen, Lara J. (Routledge, 2025-01-10)
Place-based climate adaptation workshops are an increasingly common approach to advance collective efforts to cope with the effects of climate change. Despite their increasing prevalence, uncertainty remains about effective and ineffective elements of these processes. We conducted a comparative case study across 30 communities in which workshops took place in the United States between 2017 and 2020 to identify which workshop characteristics were most often associated with subsequent adaptation-related planning and action. We examined these workshops through a team process lens to reveal which inputs, processes, and emergent states distinguished workshops with substantial evidence of positive impact (n¼6) from those with little impact (n¼6). Key factors included the involvement of a local champion, co-design of the workshop between facilitators and participants, and sustained engagement post-workshop. As more communities embark on multisectoral processes meant to catalyze collective climate action, these findings offer insights for ensuring efforts are as effective as possible.
Empirical test of the participation paradox in conservation and development
Baral, Nabin; Heinen, Joel T.; Stern, Marc J. (Wiley, 2025-01-02)
Local participation has been greatly promoted to accomplish conservation and development goals globally, but the participation paradox, in which those empowered to participate fail to do so, has rarely been thoroughly scrutinized. Here we test the participation paradox with empirical data of 234 local decision-makers' participation in a decision-making forum, Conservation Area Management Committees, in the Annapurna Conservation Area, Nepal. Using an explanatory sequential mixed methods design, both quantitative and qualitative data were collected in 2013 and 2016, analyzed, interpreted, and integrated. Women, minorities, younger members, and non-elected members participated significantly less in decision-making than men, older members, and elected members and those with leadership roles and longer tenures on the committees. Qualitative analyses revealed five major themes for motivation to participate: influence in the community; personal incentives; conservation; improving access to natural resources; and feelings of accomplishment. Key constraints to participation included hardships and competing tasks; lack of incentives; perceptions of limited agency; disinterest; and emotional burdens. Participation motivations and constraints varied by gender, social group, and membership types. We discuss the theoretical and practical implications of these results for participatory approaches to conservation and sustainable development in general and the governance of protected areas in particular.
Identifying Barriers and Bridging Gaps Between Researchers and Decision Makers in Water Quality Modeling
Chowdhury, Mahabub; Carey, Cayelan C.; Figueiredo, Renato; Gramacy, Robert; Hoffman, Kathryn; Lofton, Mary; Patil, Parul; Schreiber, Madeline E.; Thomas, R. Quinn; Calder, Ryan S. D. (2024-12-12)

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