Emerging themes and future directions in watershed resilience research
This global synthesis examines emerging themes in watershed resilience, comparing ecological, social, and engineering approaches. It identifies key knowledge gaps, resilience modes, and research priorities, emphasizing nature‑based solutions, integrative modeling, and adaptive management to support climate‑ready watershed planning worldwide.
Subject Tags
- Watersheds
- Climate impacts
- Climate resilience
Abstract
A review of ecological, social, engineering, and integrative approaches to define and apply resilience thinking is presented and comparatively discussed in the context of watershed management. Knowledge gaps are identified through an assessment of this literature and compilation of a set of research questions through stakeholder engagement activities. We derive a proposed research agenda describing key areas of inquiry such as watershed resilience variables and their interactions; leveraging watershed natural properties, processes, and dynamics to facilitate and enable resilience; analytical methods and tools including monitoring, modeling, metrics, and scenario planning, and their applications to watersheds at different spatial and temporal scales, and infusing resilience concepts as core values in watershed adaptive management.
Citation
Miralles-Wilhelm, F., Matthews, J. H., Karres, N., Abell, R., Dalton, J., Kang, S. T., ... & van Wesenbeeck, B. (2023). Emerging themes and future directions in watershed resilience research. Water Security, 18, 100132.
TNC Authors
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Nathan Karres
Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL)
The Nature Conservancy
Email: nkarres@TNC.ORG -
Robin Abell
Durable Freshwater Protection Director
The Nature Conservancy
Email: robin.abell@TNC.ORG -
Shiteng Kang
Freshwater Conservation Scientist
The Nature Conservancy
Email: stan.kang@TNC.ORG -
Rob McDonald
Lead Scientist for Nature-based Solutions
The Nature Conservancy
Email: rob_mcdonald@TNC.ORG