As Global Environmental Change Science moves from a global scale to the regional, from global process to detail and complexity, and from observation and modeling to impact, its emphasis is increasingly on the scientific foundations of adaptation, mitigation and the assessments of risk. All these are socially constructed. The scientific analysis of the human dimensions of global change is therefore becoming a crucial component of the biophysical investigation of global change. With the collaborative research networks (CRN II) the IAI has established a new global change science program which is largely focused on biophysical research. The IAI Directorate has taken an active role in developing international and interdisciplinary science within CRN II by linking projects, initiating regional and topical cooperation and moving towards a more balanced interdisciplinary science. Strengthening the social sciences in CRN II is a task prescribed by the IAI's science agenda and its need for a balanced research portfolio. This new grant program will build on the strong interdisciplinary networks created in CRN II and is designed to strengthen Theme IV, Human Dimensions and Policy Implications, of the IAI Science Agenda. The program is to develop a strong human dimensions research in conjunction with CRN II with specific emphasis on complex and dynamic coupled human and biophysical systems. The specific intellectual merit of the activity is that the Small Grants Program for the Human Dimensions does not only call for human dimensions projects with their own disciplinary focus, but integrates a broad range of human science as an integral part of the new generation of natural science projects under CRN II. A genuine integration of the human sciences with funded CRN II projects will provide new directions not only in current CRN II research but in global change science. Human dimensions research has largely been conducted in much the same disciplinary focus as the natural science research. On the basis of the topics of existing CRN II networks, an overarching theme of 'vulnerability and adaptability of socio-ecological systems to global change' will provide opportunities for truly integrated research on human dimensions areas such as urban centers & urbanization, rural transformation and sustainability, institutional dimensions of adaptation and Global Environmental Change (GEC), human health or management of vulnerable zones and communities. The thematic priority will be on human dimensions research for topics with which synergies are expected with approved CRN II projects and that address current and future vulnerability and adaptability of socio-ecological systems to GEC. The combination of CRN II with this new effort is expected to provide broader impacts by significantly enhancing the regional capacity to deal with global environmental change issues and their social and economic causes and effects in the Americas. The integrative approach will provide sound scientific understanding in support of sustainable development and adaptation to global change in the region. The major challenge, as highlighted in the CRN II program, will be to provide the best possible scientific basis for documenting, understanding and projecting changes in the Earth's life-support system and to facilitate full use of scientific information in policy and decision making on possible response strategies for adaptation or mitigation.
The Small Grants Program for Human Dimensions (SGP-HD), NSF award # 0642841, funded seven projects in twelve countries. It engaged 67 students, 45 of those with scholarships (total of US$ 444,250). In addition, 444 students participated in workshops and seminars. The grants leveraged US$ 4,538,500 from an initial investment of US$ 1,390,000. The Program linked human dimensions (HD) research to the natural science in the IAI's Collaborative Research Networks (NSF award# 0452325) and thereby provided the needed links between three critical components of science: if data and knowledge developed by natural science research is to be useful for informed decision making and policy, the impact of natural conditions and change on societies has to be made clear in qualitative and quantitative terms - this requires high quality human dimensions research. Neither natural nor human dimensions research alone will be adequate to develop adaptive capacities of societies under global change. Examples of the success of the program are: a) it has thoroughly changed the vision of natural scientists working on hurricane physics and prediction by exploring the positive impacts of cyclones on regional groundwater recharge. As a result, civil defense in Mexico now includes structures promoting rainwater infiltration as part of hurricane responses; b) it has resulted in a profound re-evaluation of climate predictions for impacts on water security. Particularly in or near mountainous regions, global climate down-scaling, is inadequate for prediction of climate trends, unless this is accompanied by quantification of local threats and vulnerabilities. Practical applications are now explored between water and public works managers in Mexico, the US and Chile, and a Center of Excellence on Water Security (AQUASEC), between the University of Arizona and the Universidad Catolica de Chile has been initiated; c) it has evaluated institutional capacities to link scientific information, societal vulnerabilities and adaptation, (d) in the contexts of urban contamination and landuse change, it has developed research jointly with stakeholders, provided strategies for cost-effective monitoring of conditions and it has initiated a dialogue with decision makers and managers. Individual project achievements SGP-HD003, led by Francisco Meza at the Catholic University of Chile, evaluated impacts and feedbacks between global change and water users, and the adaptation capabilities and perceptions of decision makers. The concept of "Water security" provides a framework to understand physical, social, political and biological repercussions of climate changes in Chile and Argentina. The integration made clear that climate change influences both water supply and water demand, compounding issues of adaptation. SGP-HD004, lead by David Gauthier of the University of Regina, Canada, focused on regional governance and institutional capacity to address vulnerabilities to climate change impacts in three river basins in Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile. The study concluded that the current level of adaptive capacity of farmers, local and regional governments in the basins is insufficient to cope with emerging climate and water security challenges, and suggests solutions based on comparative lessons learned. SGP-HD005 led by Bob Varady at the University of Arizona, examined how extreme weather like cyclones and droughts cause risk and expose vulnerabilities, while also catalyzing adaptive management and institutional learning processes in urban and rural adaptive management. The project produced a bilingual, bi-national Border Climate Summary for the US-Mexican border region providing geo-referenced text, and products that highlight wind variations, extreme temperatures, and economic impacts. SGP-HD008, led by Alex Pfaff of Duke University, showed that payments for ecosystem services and protected areas can have low impact if one does not consider how much deforestation they can prevent. Protecting areas that are under little development pressure is not a good choice: the location of conservation measures cannot only be decided upon based on ecological considerations, but must take into account, infrastructure and societal decision processes. SGP-HD009, led by J-F Tourrand, associated with the University of Brasilia, highlights two impacts of global change: in the most vulnerable communities, climate change and resource depletion create an uncertain future that galvanizes the community. In the regions of agricultural expansion in Latin America, environmental stresses are sidelined by huge commercial opportunities driven by outside markets and investors. In both cases governance has not yet set clear goals or analyzed cots and benefits of policies. SGP-HD013 led by Alejandro Leon of the University of Chile identified patterns between health, weather, and air pollution. Climate aggravates the effects of pollution on health and many poorer households are particularly vulnerable under current changes. This needs to guide changes in public policy. SGP-HD014, led by Clyde Fraisse of the University of Florida, provided climate information and forecasts to agricultural producers in Paraguay and Southern Brazil, and investigated the impacts of climate variability on crop production. It helped producers apply climate forecasts and crop models in their decision making.
