Watersheds in planetary health research and action

Jenkins, Aaron; Capon, Anthony; Negin, Joel; Marais, Ben J.; Sorrell, Tania C.; Parkes, Margot W.; Horwitz, Pierre

doi:10.1016/s2542-5196(18)30228-6

Cited by 20 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…These pollutants affect the local and downstream biomes that fuel algal blooms and contribute to biodiversity collapse in local river systems 57 . Loss of such biodiversity, as documented in the disruptions to aquatic ecosystems in Fiji, is associated with increased susceptibility to water‐borne diseases whilst also having significant nutritional and cultural implications 58 …”

Section: Water‐borne Diseasesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of climate change and biodiversity collapse on the global emergence and spread of infectious diseases

Williams

Bartlett

Howard‐Jones

et al. 2021

J Paediatrics Child Health

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The reality of climate change and biodiversity collapse is irrefutable in the 21st century, with urgent action required not only to conserve threatened species but also to protect human life and wellbeing. This existential threat forces us to recognise that our existence is completely dependent upon well‐functioning ecosystems that sustain the diversity of life on our planet, including that required for human health. By synthesising data on the ecology, epidemiology and evolutionary biology of various pathogens, we are gaining a better understanding of factors that underlie disease emergence and spread. However, our knowledge remains rudimentary with limited insight into the complex feedback loops that underlie ecological stability, which are at risk of rapidly unravelling once certain tipping points are breached. In this paper, we consider the impact of climate change and biodiversity collapse on the ever‐present risk of infectious disease emergence and spread. We review historical and contemporaneous infectious diseases that have been influenced by human environmental manipulation, including zoonoses and vector‐ and water‐borne diseases, alongside an evaluation of the impact of migration, urbanisation and human density on transmissible diseases. The current lack of urgency in political commitment to address climate change warrants enhanced understanding and action from paediatricians – to ensure that we safeguard the health and wellbeing of children in our care today, as well as those of future generations.

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Section: Water‐borne Diseasesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of climate change and biodiversity collapse on the global emergence and spread of infectious diseases

Williams

Bartlett

Howard‐Jones

et al. 2021

J Paediatrics Child Health

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“…As with equity and diversity work more broadly, this also results in crucial conversations and workloads that are experienced in differential circumstances, that are not just scalar but also necessarily uneven. "Team Watersheds" is sharing tools and processes that shed light on cumulative dynamics of resource dynamics at the watershed scale, exploring ecologically coherent units of analysis within which to address interrelated social and ecological determinants of health [6,139]. In keeping with the nested dynamics depicted in Figure 3, ECHO Network individuals, teams, and the learning community as a whole are grappling with the political, social, and economic dimensions of scale that impact on the health of humans and ecosystems, and are also confronted with the limitations and opportunities of how to influence change within their own as well as partner organizations to address these issues.…”

Section: Working With Scalementioning

confidence: 99%

Addressing the Environmental, Community, and Health Impacts of Resource Development: Challenges across Scales, Sectors, and Sites

et al. 2019

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Work that addresses the cumulative impacts of resource extraction on environment, community, and health is necessarily large in scope. This paper presents experiences from initiating research at this intersection and explores implications for the ambitious, integrative agenda of planetary health. The purpose is to outline origins, design features, and preliminary insights from our intersectoral and international project, based in Canada and titled the “Environment, Community, Health Observatory” (ECHO) Network. With a clear emphasis on rural, remote, and Indigenous communities, environments, and health, the ECHO Network is designed to answer the question: How can an Environment, Community, Health Observatory Network support the integrative tools and processes required to improve understanding and response to the cumulative health impacts of resource development? The Network is informed by four regional cases across Canada where we employ a framework and an approach grounded in observation, “taking notice for action”, and collective learning. Sharing insights from the foundational phase of this five-year project, we reflect on the hidden and obvious challenges of working across scales, sectors, and sites, and the overlap of generative and uncomfortable entanglements associated with health and resource development. Yet, although intersectoral work addressing the cumulative impacts of resource extraction presents uncertainty and unresolved tensions, ultimately we argue that it is worth staying with the trouble.

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Section: Watershed Scalementioning

confidence: 99%

“…There is a developing field of research and action that uses watersheds as spatial units within which to better understand the connection between land and water, but also ecosystems and human health (Jenkins et al, 2018). Jenkins et al (2018) found that increases in upstream tree cover had effects similar to improved engineered sanitation infrastructure. Parkes et al (2010) present a heuristic tool, 'The Watershed Governance Prism,' which aids the understanding of the relationships and interconnectedness between watersheds, ecosystems, social systems, and health and well-being (Parkes et al, 2010).…”

Section: Watershed Scalementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Watershed scale approaches are an emerging means of framing ecosystems for research and planning purposes, in part due to the holistic scope that watershed scale and related watershed management provides (Jenkins et al, 2018). Watershed approaches often include considerations accounting for land use, human activity, non-human activity, and the combined impacts these have on land and water, as well as communities and health (Parkes et al, 2010).…”

Section: Chapter One: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Exploring climate change, ecosystems and well-being connections: lessons learned from the application of a geospatial knowledge exchange tool in the Nechako watershed

Gothreau¹

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The Nechako Watershed is a large system in northern BC that exemplifies the challenge of integrating information across climate, environment and well-being. This research responded to this need with the goal of enhancing how information about the Nechako Watershed is communicated and shared. Informed by the development of a geospatial ‘portal’ tool in northern BC, this research sought to establish the Integrated Watershed Research Group (IWRG) Portal, gain insight on establishing accessible knowledge exchange strategies, and identify its perceived benefits and limitations. The research had two phases. Phase I involved working with a development team to understand this tool, testing, establishing the IWRG Portal, finding and formatting content. Phase II brought members of the Portal User Research Group together to further refine the IWRG Portal and content through scoping discussions, workshops, and a focus group. Thematic analysis was used to code and analyze the transcribed focus group. The research identified benefits of the portal with how it dealt with complexity and its integrative features. Limitations were also found, including the need for intentional framing of data, a steep learning curve, and the need for an internet connection. Analysis also identified the need to tailor content for specific audiences. The research has shown that tools such as the IWRG Portal can create new pathways to understanding and finding information. The research has also identified paths for further refinement and development of the portal tool by expanding the user base and continuing to evaluate the effectiveness of this tool in various contexts.

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Watersheds in planetary health research and action

Cited by 20 publications

References 10 publications

Impact of climate change and biodiversity collapse on the global emergence and spread of infectious diseases

Impact of climate change and biodiversity collapse on the global emergence and spread of infectious diseases

Addressing the Environmental, Community, and Health Impacts of Resource Development: Challenges across Scales, Sectors, and Sites

Exploring climate change, ecosystems and well-being connections: lessons learned from the application of a geospatial knowledge exchange tool in the Nechako watershed

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