Mobilizing communities SEAS makes an impact through international programs
T
hroughout the tropics, people depend on natural resources to meet their basic needs and make a living. But freshwater resources are threatened by development, agriculture and climate change. The Serengeti-Lake Victoria Sustainable Water Initiative is addressing water security challenges in the Mara River Basin in Africa. The basin is shared by Kenya and Tanzania, but research has traditionally focused on the upper portion in Kenya. Scientists in the School of Environment, Arts and Society (SEAS) are working to understand the ecological, economic and cultural value of freshwater sources for the Kuria people of Tanzania. Led by Assistant Professor and Tropical Conservation Institute Co-Director Elizabeth Anderson, they are also deploying monitoring devices to generate real-time data on the amount, accessibility and quality of freshwater needed to effectively manage the Mara River basin in Tanzania. Using lessons learned in Africa, our researchers are expanding their work to the tropical Andes. There, they will also study the quantity, quality and timing of river flows. With numerous regional partners, FIU will build upon decades of collaborations and train local professionals on how to design, install and maintain the water monitoring networks, and how to interpret data for sustainable water management in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. Because the tropics are among the most rapidly changing areas in the world, water security is key for local communities and biodiversity to endure. Expanding our work and impacting policy throughout the tropics will help millions of people. By working with communities and leveraging partnerships, SEAS is mobilizing the strengths and assets of locals to inform management and ensure that any solutions put in place are enduring.
Working with regional partners, FIU researchers are working to improve water supply, hygiene and sanitation in the most vulnerable communities around the world. Building on decades of research, we are engaging regional partners to help design and implement water monitoring networks and inform policy and management globally to increase access to and quality of freshwater where it is most needed. FIU’s Elizabeth Anderson (far left) talks to local women about the value of local water sources in Tanzania. Photo courtesy of Jennifer Veilleux
To learn how you can support these efforts, contact givetocase@fiu.edu | 305-348-4349.