Introduction

LEAH BREMERAssociate Specialist (page 2)

LEAH BREMERAssociate Specialist (page 2)

Leah Bremer
______________________________________________________
I view social and environmental challenges and solutions as intricately inter-connected.

Dr. Bremer’s background as a geographer and conservation scientist enables her to view social and environmental challenges from a unique perspective and to propose inter-connected solutions to water and watershed policy and management. She is able to focus on interdisciplinary, applied, and problem-driven research with collaborative teams of researchers, community groups, agencies, non-profits, and others to achieve informed, effective, and equitable decision making. Through her joint appointment with WRRC and UHERO, Leah is able to channel her considerable experience in a variety of research projects. Leah also enjoys teaching as a way to connect with students and learn from their enthusiasm and perspectives on environmental and social challenges. 

View Profile

 

EDUCATION 

  • BA, Psychology, Northwestern University 
  • MS, Conservation Biology, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand-Macquarie University, Australia 
  • PhD, Geography, University of California at Santa Barbara – San Diego State University 

INTERESTS 

  • Ecosystem services and social-ecological systems 
  • Watershed management and conservation 
  • Joint social and ecological outcomes of land-use and climate change 
  • Water resources 

CURRENT PROJECTS 

  • Linking watershed and groundwater management to groundwater dependent ecosystems and their linked ecological, cultural, and socio-economic values 
  • Enhancing social-ecological resilience and ecosystem services through restoration of coastal agroforestry systems 
  • Land-based solutions: Activating landscapes for climate change mitigation and soil health 

 

 

RESEARCH PROJECTS

Who Are We Measuring and Modeling for? Supporting Multi-Level Decision Making in Real-World Watershed Management Programs

Roles of water producer project institutions and stakeholders and the most common levels at which they work.
We interviewed a wide range of participants in water management programs in Brazil and found five key areas where modeling and monitoring can support these programs: (1) inspire action and support, (2) inform investment decisions, (3) engage with potential participants, (4) prioritize location and types of activities at regional to national scales, and (5) evaluate program success.

Climate-Smart Watershed Investments in the Montane Tropics of South America

figure 2: Beach erosion at Sunset Beach.
ClimateWIse is using information and data from the Latin American Water Funds Partnership and the Brazilian Water Producer Program to measure and model impacts of land use and climate change on high-elevation páramo grasslands and the Andean and Atlantic forests of South America.

Nature-Based Solutions, Sustainable Development, and Equity

In this chapter, we discussed the importance of attention to distributional, procedural, and recognitional equity in NBS and review examples of real-world NBS programs and strategies to improve equity outcomes. Specifically, we discussed urban green infrastructure, payments for ecosystem services, and biocultural approaches to watershed management. We concluded with emerging best practices around equitable and just NBS for water.

Hawaiʻi Rangeland Ecosystem Services

Rangeland ecosystem services team meeting at Haleakala Ranch
The purpose of this work is to facilitate policies and practices that promote enhanced stewardship of rangelands across the state for the benefit of Hawaiʻi’s environment and people.

Incorporating Multiple Values Into Decision Making in Payments for Ecosystem Services and Protected Areas

This project is part of the Intergovernmental Panel on Biodiveristy and Ecosystem Services and examines how diverse values of nature have (or have not) been considered in making informed decisions, within specific contexts, and how value articulation processes influence social and environmental outcomes in these contexts.

Identifying Multiple Values for Beaches and Coastlines Under Sea Level Rise

This study uses three sites on the island of Oʻahu to better understand how their multiple values change with expected sea level rise. The study will result in a framework to support local decision-making for proactive policy and planning for coastlines facing rapid change.