Browsing by Author "Vikraman Nair, Navya"

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    Linking Blue Carbon Ecosystems and Water Quality in Coastal Wetlands for Viable Small-Scale Fisheries
    (University of Waterloo, 2025-07-30) Vikraman Nair, Navya
    Coastal wetlands serve as critical social-ecological systems (SES), providing essential ecosystem services (ES), supporting biodiversity, and sustaining livelihoods, particularly for Small-Scale Fisheries (SSFs). However, these ecosystems are increasingly vulnerable due to the degradation of Blue Carbon Ecosystems (BCEs) such as seagrass meadows and mangrove forests, compounded by declining water quality and social-economic pressures. This doctoral research explores the interlinkages between BCEs, water quality, and SSFs in Chilika Lagoon, India, Asia's largest brackish water lagoon-through an interdisciplinary, participatory, and spatially explicit approach. Grounded in the Social-Ecological Vulnerability and Viability Nexus (SEVVN) framework, the study integrates ecological data, community knowledge, and governance analysis to understand the drivers, feedback, and outcomes influencing the resilience of coastal wetland systems. The study explores the interlinkages between BCEs, water quality, and the viability of SSFs in Chilika Lagoon, India. It addresses four interrelated objectives using a mixed-methods approach grounded in SES thinking. First, the spatial distribution of seagrass meadows and mangrove patches is mapped and characterized through participatory mapping, remote sensing (RS), and field observations. By integrating traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) with historical and scientific data, the study reveals patterns of degradation and resilience, highlighting the role of co-produced knowledge in conservation planning. Second, key water quality parameters, salinity, turbidity, temperature, and nutrient loads, are assessed using literature, secondary datasets, and community observations. Seasonal variations and anthropogenic pressures, including plastic pollution and sedimentation, are found to affect BCE health and fishery habitats, impacting SSF productivity and livelihoods. Third, the SEVVN framework is applied to analyze feedback loops and stressors linking BCE degradation and SSF vulnerability. Data from surveys, interviews, and focus group discussions (FGDs) show that fishers experience environmental and institutional vulnerabilities due to declining fish availability, weak governance, and limited adaptive capacity. Sectoral variations in exposure and resilience are documented across the lagoon’s Northern, Central, Southern, and Outer Channel sectors. Finally, the study identifies governance pathways for building resilience. Ecosystem-based and community-centered strategies are proposed, including TEK integration, water quality monitoring, and participatory co-management. Recommendations aim to foster inclusive decision-making and bridge scientific and local knowledge systems. Chilika Lagoon, a Ramsar site and biodiversity hotspot, provides a critical empirical context to study the trade-offs between conservation, development, and livelihood needs. This research contributes to policy and practice for coastal wetland sustainability in South Asia and beyond. Key findings from the study underscore the urgent need for integrated social-ecological approaches in wetland governance. Participatory mapping revealed local awareness of BCE loss but limited community involvement in formal monitoring or conservation programs. Survey data showed that perceptions of water quality decline were strongly linked to observed reductions in fish catch and increased livelihood uncertainty. Participatory exercises surfaced the erosion of traditional knowledge (TK), exacerbated by policy shifts, environmental change, and generational gaps. The SEVVN analysis identified multiple entry points for intervention, including capacity-building, knowledge co-production, and inclusive policy formulation. Theoretically, the study contributes to the literature on SES, blue carbon science, and fisheries governance by developing and applying the SEVVN framework. Methodologically, it advances participatory and mixed-methods research in coastal environments. Practically, it offers actionable insights for policymakers, conservation practitioners, and local communities seeking to build adaptive capacity and enhance the viability of SSFs. By linking ecological data with social realities, and grounding analysis in community perspectives, this research contributes to sustainability science and global efforts to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It particularly aligns with SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 6 (Clean Water), SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 14 (Life Below Water), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Ultimately, the study argues for a shift from fragmented, top-down conservation models toward more inclusive, participatory, and ecosystem-based governance approaches that center the voices of those most dependent on coastal resources.