Using an Object-Oriented, Spatial Modeling System to Explore Socioecological Dynamics in Savanna Ecosystems in Southern Africa
Participants: Sanjiv Jagtap, Gregory A. Kiker[596KB], Rafael Muñoz-Carpena (UF Agricultural and Biological Engineering); Jane Southworth, Michael Binford, Brian Child, Eric Keys, Peter Waylen (UF Geography), Lin Cassidy (Botswana)
Timeline: 2010 - 2011
Funding Agencies: NASA-LCLUC
Project Summary
The Okavango, Kwando, and upper Zambezi river systems contribute to a savanna ecosystem that is of economic and ecological importance in southern Africa, but that has recently seemed susceptible to climate variability. In order to preserve and maintain these ecosystems, southern African states are exploring the effects of socioeconomic institutions on ecological degradation. This can be investigated by studying data on climate, land cover, and behavior of human institutions.
The objective of this project is to consolidate this data into a user-friendly, virtual laboratory where stake-holders can explore the tradeoffs between land-use policy and degradation effects. The model will be developed using the Questions and Decisions (QnD) modeling system, which was created to incorporate ecosystem, management, economic, and sociopolitical factors, and can be deployed as stand-alone program or as web-based applet.
This page was last updated on July 13, 2019.