Andean-Amazonian Watershed Experience: Exploring Sustainability of Mountain Ecosystems in Ecuador

Human societies and terrestrial biota directly depend on watersheds: delineated landscape units composed of socio-ecohydrological systems (SEHS) that regulate the flow and quality of water. The sustainability of watershed functions in the face of global change is one of the pressing environmental and social challenges. Water Funds (a broad class of policies designed to incentivize watershed management behaviors) have emerged as a tool to promote the sustainable management of watersheds; however, it is necessary to link research in watersheds with such tools (public policy instruments) that promote sustainability. Hence, there is a need to improve global water security through the training of future scientists, decision-makers, and citizens to fully understand the complex relationship between SEHS and watershed sustainability at local and international scales. Furthermore, future leaders must have the ability to work and communicate effectively within interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary teams, engaging a wide range of stakeholders and decision-makers in the research process. The proposed project develops an international program for undergraduate and graduate students on the Andean-Amazonian watershed experience: exploring the sustainability of mountain ecosystems in Ecuador. The goal of the project is to provide an international research experience that enhances students' understanding of sociohydrological systems (SEHS), in response to global change drivers, and explore science-based policies to improve watershed sustainability.

(1) Provide an international research experience that enhances students' understanding of the complex dynamics of socio-ecohydrological systems in watersheds.

(2) Investigate science-based policies to improve watershed sustainability.

(1) To provide an international research experience that enhances students' understanding of the complex dynamics of socio-ecohydrological systems in river basins.

National Science Foundation (2020)