Sutton-Grier and Kenney published on wetland management and decision-making

ESSIC associate research professor Ariana Sutton-Grier is a co-author of two new journal articles on decision making with respect to wetlands management within an evolving world and climate.

“Pathways to Coastal Resiliency: The Adaptive Gradients Framework” also includes Melissa Kenney* as a co-author and is published in the journal Sustainability.  The article calls for a new approach in developing and managing coastal infrastructure that considers factors including the participatory process, greenhouse gas emissions, and ecological enhancements when making decisions about projects and investments.  The authors introduce the Adaptive Gradients Framework, a qualitative, flexible, and collaborative process guide for organizations to understand, evaluate, and offer alternative infrastructural responses.  It is currently open-access and available to the public here.

The article “The Second Warning to Humanity – Providing a Context for Wetland Management and Policy,” is available in the journal Wetlands.  As a follow-up to a previous study produced by William Ripple—(who encouraged society to take steps to prevent the sixth mass extinction)–the new piece specifically addresses the effects of climate change on wetland management.  The article is available at the following link.

Sutton-Grier is an ecosystem ecologist with expertise in wetland ecology and restoration, biodiversity, biogeochemistry, climate change, and ecosystem services.  In addition to her work at ESSIC, she is also the director of science for the MD/DC chapter of the Nature Conservancy.

*Dr. Melissa A. Kenney is an associate research professor in Environmental Decision Analysis and Indicators at the University of Maryland, Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center and the Cooperative Institute for Climate and Satellites-Maryland.  Her research broadly addresses how to integrate both scientific knowledge and societal values into policy decision-making under uncertainty.   Recently, a team of UMD researchers she co-led received a $750,000 National Science Foundation (NSF) grant.

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