Mapping the Relative Habitat Quality Values for the Burrowing Owls (Athene cunicularia) of the Canadian Prairies Using an Innovative Parameterization Approach in the InVEST HQ Module.

The range and population of Burrowing Owls (BOs) are declining in the Canadian Prairies. Multiple anthropogenic sources of degradation (threat) are attributed to this trend. Yet, the cumulative degradation caused by these sources has not been quantified across this landscape. Using the InVEST Habitat Quality (HQ) module and a novel approach to parameterize the relative sensitivity scores in this framework, we quantified, mapped, and evaluated the relative HQ values for these species in the prairies. The results illustrate significant differences in the HQ values between the current range and areas within the historical range of these species that do not spatially intersect with their current spatial extent. However, the variations of HQ values are not statistically significant under the different spatial scenarios considered across the current breeding grounds. Nevertheless, the results within the specific land use/cover categories illustrate meaningful variations in the HQ values across the current range of these species. Our findings suggest that the existing declining trends could only be attributed to the synergistic impact of the considered threats and other factors undermining the essential ecological processes for these birds. The results also highlight the importance of expanding the spatial extent of the existing conservation measures to prevent further loss of these charismatic migratory birds from the prairie landscape. A good starting point is to consider the HQ change index, a measure defined to illustrate the relative habitat degradation under different sources of degradation. Further studies are still required to determine the spatiotemporal impacts of all sources of degradation on the habitat of these endangered species in Canada and across their global range.

Will Peaceful Waters Flow Again? A Game-Theoretic Insight into a Tripartite Environmental Conflict in the Middle East.

A tripartite environmental conflict over the Al-Hawizeh-Azim Marsh located in the Tigris River Basin is strategically investigated as an instance of a higher-level hydro-political conflict, using the Graph Model for Conflict Resolution (GMCR). The GMCR+ Decision Support System is employed to investigate this intriguing dispute under the status quo and a potential hydro-political scenario considered to assess the efficacy of employing a suggested water diplomacy tool (option) as an alternative mechanism for resolving the conflict. The results of this exploratory conflict analysis study highlight the importance of the policy systems dominating the strategic behavior of the decision makers. Utilizing the option for water diplomacy would create new equilibria for equitably resolving this complex dispute, which would be beneficial for all decision makers if the proposed option and policy systems were adopted.