A Metacoupling Framework for Exploring Transboundary Watershed Management

Leandra Merz,Di Yang,Vanessa Hull

doi:10.3390/su12051879

Leandra Merz, Di Yang + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/su12051879

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Journal: Sustainability	Publication Date: Mar 2, 2020
Citations: 10	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: University of Florida, University of Montana

Abstract

Water is crucial for ecosystem health and socioeconomic development, but water scarcity is becoming a global concern. Management of transboundary watersheds is inherently challenging and has the potential to lead to conflict over the allocation of water resources. The metacoupling framework, which explores the relationships between coupled human and natural systems that are nested within multiple different scales, has been proposed to inform more holistic management of transboundary watersheds. This paper provides the first attempt to apply a metacoupling framework to a transboundary watershed for an improved integrated understanding of this complex system at multiple spatial scales. It does so with the transnational Limpopo River watershed in Southern Africa, which covers 1.3% of the continent and supports the livelihoods of 18.8 million people living in Botswana, Mozambique, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. Sub-Saharan Africa is experiencing a growing gap between water availability and demand; the primary drivers are population growth and agriculture expansion. The novelty of the paper is outlining the importance of applying a metacoupling framework to transboundary watersheds, identifying the limitations to this application, and providing a detailed assessment of the steps needed to complete this application. We also identify directions for future research including application of a metacoupling framework to other transboundary watersheds and exploration of spillover effects and externalities within this and other transboundary watersheds.

Highlights

Water is one of the most essential elements for both natural systems and for socioeconomic development [1]
We provide a roadmap with which other researchers can further apply and adapt the metacoupling framework to this and other transboundary watershed systems
The management of transboundary watersheds presents a challenge because there are conflicting uses and inequitable distribution of both costs and benefits [12]

Summary

Introduction

Water is one of the most essential elements for both natural systems and for socioeconomic development [1]. The metacoupling framework is a powerful new approach that builds on previous CHANS research and methods by allowing for integration across spatial scales (see Table 1 for some comparisons between the metacoupling framework, HEM, and SH). Accounts for both socioeconomic and environmental characteristics Can predict future scenarios. We argue that the metacoupling framework is a useful method for studying social and ecological components across multiple integrated spatial scales of transboundary river basins. We provide a roadmap with which other researchers can further apply and adapt the metacoupling framework to this and other transboundary watershed systems

The Limpopo River Watershed Case Study

Pericouplings

Telecouplings

Inequality in the Telecoupling Driven by Transnational Politics

Spillover Effects

Findings

Conclusions and Future Directions