SWAC is excited to host our first Distinguished International Lecture: Global Issues in Soil, Water, and Climate. This series features experts in the fields of soil, water, and climate science working outside the United States and Europe. This year's special guest is Dra. María Susana Alvarado Barrientos of the Instituto de Ecología, A.C.
"Ecohydrology for sustainable futures: insights from integrative science in Mexico"
Abstract: The intertwined crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, declining soil health, and water scarcity cannot be addressed by siloed science. This is particularly true in most megadiverse countries of the Global South, where economic pressures often place ecosystems, human well-being, and scientific endeavors at odds. This presentation synthesizes over a decade of collaborative ecohydrological research conducted across critical humid ecosystems in Mexico, including tropical montane cloud forests, shade-coffee plantations, and mangroves. In addition, an ongoing effort to sustain MexFlux, a national network of ecosystem flux observatories and a community of practice, that is developing synthesis research and hopes for long-term data collection, will be presented. The overall aim of these investigations is to advance our understanding of the functioning of key ecosystems by quantifying water, carbon and energy fluxes, and their biophysical controls. This work enables a better understanding of the impacts of environmental change and provides a scientific foundation for sustainable land management and ecosystem restoration. Key findings demonstrate that place-based integrative research, continuous monitoring, and collaborative scientific efforts in the Global South are not merely complementary but essential for moving towards more sustainable futures both locally and globally.
This event is free and open to the public. To help us plan for refreshments, please RSVP using the form linked below.