Browsing by Autor "Mark Mulligan"

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Advancing spatial decision-making in a transboundary catchment through multidimensional ecosystem services assessment
(Elsevier BV, 2023) Alicia Correa; Jorge Enrique Forero; Jorge Marco; Iván Lizarazo; Mark Mulligan; Daniele Codato
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
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
Towards a &#8220;multi-level&#8221; sustainability analysis in Pacific-Andes-Amazon transboundary catchments.
(2022) Alicia Correa; Jorge Enrique Forero; Mark Mulligan; Daniele Codato
&lt;p&gt;Global change has economic, environmental, and social impacts on water, energy, and food resources that threaten the ways of living of several communities across the globe. Moreover, the identification of those impacts at the local level constitutes a fundamental step in the process of designing and implementing proposals for the sustainable management of natural resources. The definition of what sustainability means is another key step in that direction. Within theoretical debates, three concepts have been identified: weak, strong, and super-strong sustainability. The first proposes to understand nature as &amp;#8220;natural capital&amp;#8221;, which should be treated as any other factor of production and can be exchanged with other forms of capital. The second highlights the existence of &amp;#8220;critical natural capitals&amp;#8221; that need to be conserved no matter the economic cost. The third, finally, introduces cultural, religious, historical, and ethical considerations, proposing the concept of &amp;#8220;natural heritage&amp;#8221; as an alternative to &amp;#8220;natural capital&amp;#8221;.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;We propose an analytical framework that integrates those different approaches to sustainability, combining spatial data analysis and participatory dialog with actors from local communities. With this methodology, we aim to identify strategies towards the sustainable management of water, energy, and food resources, in the Pacific-Andes-Amazon altitudinal transects of two transboundary catchments of Ecuador, Colombia, Peru, and Brazil (Mira-Mataje - 11,791km&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt;, and Putumayo - 125,563km&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt;). We used remotely-sensed and globally available datasets alongside the spatially distributed assessment model Co$tingNature, to evaluate the natural capital. Then we quantified the interactions between natural capital, protected areas, and indigenous territories to identify critical areas for protection. Finally, we included the knowledge from leaders of Indigenous (Cof&amp;#225;n, Aw&amp;#225;, and Kamenzat), Mestizo-peasant, and Afro-descendant communities distributed along the altitudinal transects, regarding their natural heritage, and their perception of the challenges for its sustainable management.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;We found a significant overlapping between critical natural capital and ancestral territories of ethnic communities and recognized some key anthropic intensive activities that challenge the conservation of those areas. We also identified the significant role that culture plays in the local communities&amp;#8217; efforts both to defend their territory and to find sustainable practices oriented towards the securing of collective welfare and the conservation of the environmental integrity of their natural heritage.&lt;/p&gt;