Browsing by Autor "Afnan Agramont"

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Contaminación Hídrica y Derecho a la Seguridad Alimentaria de Comunidades Indígenas Andino-bolivianas del Titicaca en la cuenca Katari
(2024) Nicole Rivera Gironas; Camila Abril Garnica Gonzalez; Belen Isamar Salvatierra Terrazas; Leonardo Villafuerte Philippsborn; Afnan Agramont
Las comunidades Indígenas Andino-bolivianas del Titicaca dependen a menudo de sus recursos naturales para garantizar su seguridad alimentaria, lo que las hace especialmente vulnerables a fluctuaciones ambientales y cambios en el ecosistema. Bajo ese criterio, el presente estudio aplica una metodología cualitativa para analizar la relación existente entre la seguridad alimentaria de las comunidades de la región de la bahía de Cohana (tomando como caso de estudio a la comunidad de Chojasivi) y la contaminación hídrica presente en la cuenca Katari. Los resultados revelan que dicha contaminación ha generado un efecto potencial en el acceso, disponibilidad, uso y estabilidad en el tiempo de los alimentos que componen la canasta básica de los comunarios.
Contributions of stakeholder perspectives and biophysical mapping to assess ecosystem services in the Upper White Nile basin
(Elsevier BV, 2024) Annika Schlemm; Mark Mulligan; Afnan Agramont; Benjamin Ssekamuli; Callist Tindimugaya; Godfrey Ogonda; Ann van Griensven
• Combined spatial mapping and stakeholder evaluations of ecosystem services in East Africa. • Identified spatial dominance of carbon-related services, with varied local relevance. • Highlighted the high value placed on local aquatic ecosystem services by stakeholders. • Emphasised the need to integrate spatial data and local values for effective conservation planning. The wellbeing and livelihoods of local communities are threatened by global changes that affect ecosystem services. This study addresses the gap in comprehensive ecosystem services assessment and uses the Co$tingNature mapping tool and stakeholder’s perceptions to examine the spatial distribution of ecosystem service magnitudes and perceived local value in the Upper White Nile basin in East Africa, an area facing significant resource pressures. The analysis reveals a heterogeneous distribution of ecosystem services, with a notable concentration of ecosystem service delivery in the western regions of the basin in Uganda. The Co$tingNature assessment emphasises the widespread spatial distribution of carbon storage and sequestration and agriculture related services, while stakeholders highly value more localised services such as water provision and artisanal fisheries. Using both methods proves crucial, as Co$tingNature offers cost-effective whole-area spatial assessments, whereas stakeholder perceptions provide insights into local concerns and values. This study underscores the importance of complementing global tools with local knowledge, as these tools may otherwise lack relevance in local policy spheres. By incorporating stakeholder perspectives into conservation planning, the study highlights the need to integrate aquatic and agriculture-related ecosystem services into local policies and conservation strategies in the Upper White Nile basin. Leveraging tools like Co$tingNature alongside stakeholder perspectives enhances our understanding of ecosystem dynamics and facilitates more effective environmental management strategies in the region. This combined approach offers a practical framework for ecosystem service assessments that can both contextualise and mobilise conservation efforts, bridging the gap between locally valued services and those with global significance.
Developing meaningful water-energy-food-environment (WEFE) nexus indicators with stakeholders: An Upper White Nile case study
(Elsevier BV, 2024) Annika Schlemm; Mark Mulligan; Ting Tang; Afnan Agramont; Jean Nepomuscene Namugize; Enos Malambala; Ann van Griensven
Exploring global remote sensing products for water quality assessment: Lake Nicaragua case study
(Elsevier BV, 2024) Analy Baltodano; Afnan Agramont; Katoria Lesaalon Lekarkar; Evangelos Spyrakos; I. Reusen; Ann van Griensven
This study explores the applicability of 13 globally-derived Chlorophyll-a (CHL) products from optical satellite remote sensing to support local water quality management in Lake Nicaragua. The temporal and spatial consistency between the products was analyzed, as well as their agreement with in-situ data collected from 2011 to 2016. The Climate Change Initiative (CCI) CHL product was identified as the most stable and reliable, suggesting its suitability for monitoring Lake Nicaragua. However, the correlation of this product with in-situ measurements was weak, attributed to the sparse and inconsistent nature of the available in-situ water quality data. The hotspots analysis identified critical areas around urban and agricultural zones with high CHL concentrations, providing valuable insights for targeted management interventions. This study emphasizes the need for improved global to local remote sensing strategies, including the selection of the appropriate algorithms for the region, continuous calibration and validation with in-situ data, and the development of a robust, publicly accessible local water quality database that includes both in-situ and remote sensing data, to support effective monitoring for local water management.
Exploring Trends and Variability of Water Quality over Lake Titicaca Using Global Remote Sensing Products
(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, 2024) Vann Harvey Maligaya; Analy Baltodano; Afnan Agramont; Ann van Griensven
Understanding the current water quality dynamics is necessary to ensure that ecological and sociocultural services are provided to the population and the natural environment. Water quality monitoring of lakes is usually performed with in situ measurements; however, these are costly, time consuming, laborious, and can have limited spatial coverage. Nowadays, remote sensing offers an alternative source of data to be used in water quality monitoring; by applying appropriate algorithms to satellite imagery, it is possible to retrieve water quality parameters. The use of global remote sensing water quality products increased in the last decade, and there are a multitude of products available from various databases. However, in Latin America, studies on the inter-comparison of the applicability of these products for water quality monitoring is rather scarce. Therefore, in this study, global remote sensing products estimating various water quality parameters were explored on Lake Titicaca and compared with each other and sources of data. Two products, the Copernicus Global Land Service (CGLS) and the European Space Agency Lakes Climate Change Initiative (ESA-CCI), were evaluated through a comparison with in situ measurements and with each other for analysis of the spatiotemporal variability of lake surface water temperature (LSWT), turbidity, and chlorophyll-a. The results of this study showed that the two products had limited accuracy when compared to in situ data; however, remarkable performance was observed in terms of exhibiting spatiotemporal variability of the WQ parameters. The ESA-CCI LSWT product performed better than the CGLS product in estimating LSWT, while the two products were on par with each other in terms of demonstrating the spatiotemporal patterns of the WQ parameters. Overall, these two global remote sensing water quality products can be used to monitor Lake Titicaca, currently with limited accuracy, but they can be improved with precise pixel identification, accurate optical water type definition, and better algorithms for atmospheric correction and retrieval. This highlights the need for the improvement of global WQ products to fit local conditions and make the products more useful for decision-making at the appropriate scale.
Framing Water Policies: A Transdisciplinary Study of Collaborative Governance; the Katari River Basin (Bolivia)
(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, 2022) Afnan Agramont; Guadalupe Peres-Cajías; Leonardo Villafuerte Philippsborn; Nora Van Cauwenbergh; Marc Craps; Ann van Griensven
Collaborative water governance deals with diverse actors under participatory systems of decision making. This form of water governance involves stakeholders with fundamentally different values and premises about water resources, as well as different understandings of the problem and how to approach it. Thus, one of the major challenges of collaborative water governance relies on the diversity of frames carried by stakeholders involved and the shift from hierarchical decision-making to a more collaborative and participative process. The fragmentation of frames can represent an obstacle, impede mutual understanding, and negatively influence decision making and policy outcomes. Based on participative observation, interviews, and document analysis, we explored the drivers behind the framing process in the multi-actor platform of the Katari River Basin, located in Bolivia. The results highlight a participatory process design favoring the fragmentation of frames and a unidirectional decision-making process, where public authority, scientific–technical expertise, and the local community’s knowledge are insulated, and communication among actors is asymmetrical. At the same time, this research reveals the influence of the political context in the framing process.
Indigenous community-based approaches to environmental justice through citizen science
(Springer Science+Business Media, 2026) Afnan Agramont; Analy Baltodano; Mohammad Gharesifard; Leonardo Villafuerte Philippsborn; Liliana Lizarazo‐Rodríguez; Stuart Warner; Ann van Griensven
Integrating climate change impact modelling and local stakeholder participation for water resources management on the Katari River Basin, Bolivia
(2025) Jose Pablo Teran Orsini; Afnan Agramont; Leonardo Villafuerte Philippsborn; Guadalupe Peres-Cajías
The Katari River Basin (KRB) is increasingly vulnerable to climate change, which affects water availability, water quality, and ecosystems. Economic activities are amplifying these issues by increasing water demand and pollution. Local indigenous communities are particularly impacted by these challenges, which arise from a combination of climate change effects, pollution, and poor water management practices. The absence of clear strategies for adaptation or mitigation further exacerbates these vulnerabilities. This study integrates impact modelling with a participatory framework for water resource management, the Climate Risk Informed Decision Analysis (CRIDA). It combines climate projections from regional climate models of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP), hydrological modelling using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT+), and stakeholder engagement across diverse sectors of the basin. This approach allows to identify present and future challenges in the KRB and establishes adaptation pathways to reduce vulnerabilities. The first phase of the implementation of the CRIDA framework involved a workshop where maps were created by stakeholders highlighting challenges such as droughts, floods, water pollution, erosion, and solid waste transport. Collaborative discussions fostered empathy and a shared commitment to identifying solutions. Furthermore, modelling results indicate drying trends during the dry season and intensified wet periods, heightening risks of droughts, floods, and water scarcity. These findings, shared with stakeholders, enabled them to anticipate how current challenges may evolve and to develop informed strategies for resilience. This work establishes a critical foundation for adaptive water management by incorporating stakeholder insights and informed decision-making. Future discussions as part of CRIDA between local communities, municipal governments, and Bolivia&#8217;s Ministry of Environment and Water will benefit from this shared understanding of the KRB&#8217;s climate risks, challenges, and potential adaptation solutions. Moreover, the developed hydrological model will serve as a &#8216;&#8217;stress-testing&#8217;&#8217; tool, whereby proposed solutions can be evaluated to find the most effective one.
Integrating ecosystem services into the water-energy-food-environment (WEFE) nexus for informed conservation strategies and planning in the Upper White Nile basin
(Elsevier BV, 2025) Annika Schlemm; Mark Mulligan; Afnan Agramont; Charles Brown; Jean Nepomuscene Namugize; Ann van Griensven
Integrating spatial and social characteristics in the DPSIR framework for the sustainable management of river basins: case study of the Katari River Basin, Bolivia
(Taylor & Francis, 2021) Afnan Agramont; Nora Van Cauwenbergh; Ann van Griesven; Marc Craps
The drivers–pressures–state–impact–responses (DPSIR) framework has been used widely to support environmental policy developments. However, we argue that DPSIR tends to oversimplify the complexity behind socio-ecological systems. Based on the Katari River Basin in Bolivia, we explore how the incorporation of spatial and social considerations may enhance DPSIR applications. The results reveal a spatial mismatch between driving forces/pressures and policy responses, and severe impacts on the vulnerable communities. Moreover, we also show that local levels tend to be neglected. The study concludes that integrating spatial and social characteristics in the DPSIR may result in valuable implications for river basin management practitioners.
Land Cover Change and Water Quality: How Remote Sensing Can Help Understand Driver–Impact Relations in the Lake Titicaca Basin
(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, 2022) Analy Baltodano; Afnan Agramont; I. Reusen; Ann van Griensven
The increase of human interventions and developments are modifying the land use/land cover (LULC) of the global landscape, thus severely affecting the water quality of rivers and lakes. Appropriate management and effective policy developments are required to deal with the problems of surface water contamination around the globe. However, spatiotemporal variations of water quality and its complex relation with land cover (LC) changes, challenge adequate water resources management. In this study, we explored the use of remote sensing to relate LC change in the Katari River Basin (KRB) located in the Bolivian Andes and water quality on the shores of Lake Titicaca, in order to support water management. An unsupervised classification of Landsat 7 satellite images and trajectory analysis was applied to understand the modifications of LC through time. In addition, water-quality indicators at the outlet of the basin were retrieved from remote-sensing images and its temporal behavior was analyzed. The results show that the expansion of urban areas is the predominant environmental driver in the KRB, which has great impact on the water quality of Lake Titicaca. We conclude that there is a strong link between the rapid growth of urban and industrial areas with the detriment of river and lake water quality. This case study shows how remote sensing can help understand driver–impact relations.
Tendencias en investigación sobre medios de comunicación y su incidencia en el medio ambiente
(2023) Esteban Marcelo Guardia Crespo; Afnan Agramont
This article analyzes the characteristics of research relating media content to global environmental problems. A review of scientific literature was conducted on articles correlating the fields of communication and the environment. The analysis concludes that scientific studies focus mainly on journalistic content, without considering other formats transmitted by the media. The results show the lack of research on advertising and its influence on consumerism, whose consequences contribute to environmental degradation and increase the depredation of natural resources, rather than favoring environmental care through awareness-raising and educational strategies in its various formats. Keywords: Media; Environment; Journalism; Consumerism; Advertising. Tendencias en investigación sobre medios de comunicación y su incidencia en el medio ambienterends Resumen: El presente artículo analiza las características de la investigación que relaciona el contenido mediático con los problemas ambientales mundiales. Realiza una revisión de literatura científica que aborda la comunicación y el medio ambiente para conocer la tendencia en investigación. El análisis concluye que los estudios científicos dirigen principal atención al contenido del periodismo, sin tomar en cuenta otros formatos que transmiten los medios de comunicación. Los resultados evidencian la falta de investigación en torno a la publicidad y su influencia en el consumismo, cuyas consecuencias contribuyen a la degradación del medio ambiente e incrementan la depredación de recursos naturales, más allá de favorecer el cuidado del medio ambiente a través de estrategias sensibilizadoras y educativas en sus diversos formatos. Palabras clave: Medios de Comunicación; Medio Ambiente; periodismo; Consumismo; Publicidad.
Tendencias en investigación sobre medios de comunicación y su incidencia en el medio ambiente
(2023) Esteban Marcelo Guardia Crespo; Afnan Agramont
This article analyzes the characteristics of research relating media content to global environmental problems. A review of scientific literature was conducted on articles correlating the fields of communication and the environment. The analysis concludes that scientific studies focus mainly on journalistic content, without considering other formats transmitted by the media. The results show the lack of research on advertising and its influence on consumerism, whose consequences contribute to environmental degradation and increase the depredation of natural resources, rather than favoring environmental care through awareness-raising and educational strategies in its various formats. Keywords: Media; Environment; Journalism; Consumerism; Advertising. Tendencias en investigación sobre medios de comunicación y su incidencia en el medio ambienterends Resumen: El presente artículo analiza las características de la investigación que relaciona el contenido mediático con los problemas ambientales mundiales. Realiza una revisión de literatura científica que aborda la comunicación y el medio ambiente para conocer la tendencia en investigación. El análisis concluye que los estudios científicos dirigen principal atención al contenido del periodismo, sin tomar en cuenta otros formatos que transmiten los medios de comunicación. Los resultados evidencian la falta de investigación en torno a la publicidad y su influencia en el consumismo, cuyas consecuencias contribuyen a la degradación del medio ambiente e incrementan la depredación de recursos naturales, más allá de favorecer el cuidado del medio ambiente a través de estrategias sensibilizadoras y educativas en sus diversos formatos. Palabras clave: Medios de Comunicación; Medio Ambiente; periodismo; Consumismo; Publicidad.
Transdisciplinary Learning Communities to Involve Vulnerable Social Groups in Solving Complex Water-Related Problems in Bolivia
(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, 2019) Afnan Agramont; Marc Craps; Melina Balderrama; Marijke Huysmans
Bolivia has influenced the international water arenas as a pioneer of the Human Water Rights Declaration before the United Nations General Council. However, despite a positive but rather ideological evolution, the country is still facing several water challenges in practice. Water governance is extremely complex due to intricate social structures, important spatial and temporal differences in the availability of water resources, ecological fragility, and weak institutions. A Transdisciplinary Learning Community approach has been adopted by the Universidad Católica Boliviana to take into account the complexity of the water problems caused by social, hydrological, and ecological system imbalances. In this approach, researchers and non-academic actors work closely together to integrate different ways of conceiving, using, valuing, and deciding on water issues. The approach aims at co-creating resilient solutions by recovering and restoring not only the ecological system, but also the social system in which all actors are aware of their role and responsibility. We explain the challenges and concerns raised by this approach in a case study of the Katari River Basin (KRB), which is impacted by a high degree of contamination that is mainly caused while crossing El Alto city, leading to dramatic consequences for the Lake Titicaca ecosystem and its surrounding communities.