meeting report 8.08 san juan ultra 3

8/4/2019 Meeting Report 8.08 San Juan ULTRA 3

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Report Summary

The USDA Forest Service and US National Science Foundation recently entered intoconversation to establish an Urban Long Term Research Areas (ULTRA) network of cities

across the US. The purpose of the research network is to better link the prospects ofenvironmental health and quality of life in urban areas through long-term research,application, and education. The city of San Juan is a candidate city to establish an ULTRAsite, and the objectives of this site would be:

Create an interdisciplinary research center to understand linkages betweenecological and social systems of San Juan and its surroundings.

Develop and provide useful and relevant knowledge for management anddecision-making.

Integrate scientific and local knowledge. Develop a reflexive and learning approach in which we collaborate with

communities, decision-makers, managers, and other interest groups in the co-production of knowledge, synthesis of information, project implementationand education.

The first meetings among San Juan researchers to develop the overarching concept of theproposal took place on August 18 and 19 of 2008. The meetings consisted of a field trip tomultiple sites in the Ro Piedras watershed on the first day, followed by an interdisciplinaryworkshop to develop research concepts, questions and strategies for the San Juan ULTRAproposal. A total of 34 participants attended, representing a wide range of natural and socialscience disciplines. Prior to the meeting, we consulted with 16 key stakeholders working onurban environmental issues in San Juan, including representatives from communities, non-governmental organizations, and city and state planning agencies, to assess key issues,concerns, and research needs to help inform and frame the ULTRA research agenda.

Based on these deliberations, a number of cross-cutting themes and approaches emerged,including: vulnerability/resilience, networks, historical and cultural legacies, flows (materials,energy, information), and environmental governance. These are addressed through atransdisciplinary approach that focuses on the connectivity of social and biophysical systemsat multi-spatial and temporal scales, and their effect on present and future vulnerability andgovernance of San Juan city and its surroundings. The overall question that emerged fromthe meetings was:

What is the long term relationship between biophysical and social networks on

system vulnerability and governance in San Juan?

In this report we summarize the activities and discussions that shaped this firstconceptualization of San Juan ULTRA. Here you will find meeting agendas, presentations,notes, and additional information on next steps in developing the proposal for San JuanULTRA. We expect the ULTRA RFP to be out soon, at which moment we will distributeand suggest ways of moving forward. For any questions or clarifications, please donthesitate to contact us. For more information about the ULTRA Network, please go to thislink: http://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/urban/ultra.


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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank workshop participants for their participation and enthusiasm in

developing a vision and roadmap for the establishment of the San Juan ULTRA. The list

of attendees included (in no particular order):

Blanca Ruiz, USDA Forest Service

Fred Scatena, University of Pennsylvania

Carmen M Concepcin, University of Puerto Rico, Ro Piedras

Jose Seguinot Barbosa, University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences

Ruben J. Hernndez, University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences

Elsie Aponte Florencianin, Fideicomiso de Conservacin de Puerto Rico

Alberto Del Toro, Fideicomiso de Conservacin de Puerto Rico

Anbal Seplveda, Fideicomiso de Conservacin de Puerto Rico and University of Puerto

Rico

Alonso Ramrez, University of Puerto Rico, Ro PiedrasDiana M. Martin-Cardona, University of Puerto Rico, Ro Piedras

Jim Ackerman, University of Puerto Rico, Ro Piedras

Jess Zimmerman, University of Puerto Rico, Ro Piedras

Rafael Ros, University of Puerto Rico, Ro Piedras

Rebeca de Jess, Department of Natural Resources

Sofa Burgos, University of Puerto Rico

Antares Ramos Alvarez, USDA Forest Service

Elvia Melndez, University of Puerto Rico, Ro Piedras

Carlos Garca Quijano, University of Puerto Rico, Cayey

Armando Rodrguez Durn, University Interamericana, Bayamn

Sylvia Gonzlez, University of Puerto RicoMagaly Figueroa, USDA Forest Service, International Institute of Tropical Forestry

Sheila Ward, University of Puerto Rico, Ro Piedras

Juan Giusti Cordero, Centro de Accin Urbana, University of Puerto Rico, Ro Piedras

Germn Ramos, University of Puerto Rico, CAUCE

Javier Laureano, Estuario Bahia de San Juan

Oscar J. Abelleira, USDA Forest Service and University of Puerto Rico, Ro Piedras

Robert B. Waide, University of New Mexico

Elvira Cuevas, University of Puerto Rico, Ro Piedras

Evelyn Rodrguez-Alamo, University of Puerto Rico, Ro Piedras

Edwin Hernndez Delgado, University of Puerto Rico, Ro Piedras

Olga M. Jimnez Osorio, Turabo UniversityHelen M Corts, USDA Forest Service, International Institute of Tropical Forestry

Tischa A. Muoz-Erickson, Arizona State University

Ariel E. Lugo, USDA Forest Service, International Institute of Tropical Forestry

We also want to acknowledge the individuals and organizations that shared their time and

knowledge with us through interviews. This information was invaluable to the ideas


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presented in this report, and we hope that we have been responsive to the needs and

concern expressed by these stakeholders. Interview participants (not listed forconfidentiality) represented a range of institutions dealing with urban environmental and

social issues, including:

Office of Land Use Plan, San Juan MunicipalityPuerto Rico Department of Natural Resources

Puerto Rico Department of Transportation (Ciudad Mayor Project)

San Juan Bay Estuary Consortium

ENLACE Project, Cao Martn Pea

Cool Cities Project, Sierra Club Puerto Rico

Citizens for San Patricio Forest

Alliance for San Juan Ecological Corridor

CEDICE Project

Urbanscape, Inc.

Finally, we would like to thank all those that have expressed interest and enthusiasm forSan Juan ULTRA, but were not able to join us for the meeting. This is just the start of

this exciting new effort, so we hope you can all join us in the future.


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Ro Piedras Watershed Field Trip August 15, 2008

The purpose of having a field trip prior to setting the research agenda was to provide aninformal space in which researchers with multiple disciplinary backgrounds (natural andsocial sciences) could deliberate and reflect together on the pressing social and ecological

issues of San Juan city. We invited community leaders to meet us at different sites along themain watersheds in the city the Rio Piedras watershed - to present and share theirknowledge and experiences of the human and environmental interactions in their area, whatfactors are affecting them, and what they would like to see in their communities.

While the boundaries for San Juan ULTRA are multiple and yet to be determined, weselected the Ro Piedras watershed as a logical starting point to bound the citys socio-ecological system (this watershed carries some of the major ecological and social flows in thecity) for the purposes of a more focused discussion during the field trip. The lay-out of thefield trip is also based on an urban forest field trip that the International Institute forTropical Forestry (IITF) has designed as part of their outreach and educational activities (see

Appendix 2 for a description of the IITF field sites). The specific stops for the San JuanULTRA field trip Caimito, Montehiedra Bridge, Comunidad Borinquen, and Parque Central(shownin Figure 2) - were informed by the IITF field sites and recommendations from communityleaders. The group CEDICE (Centro de Desarrollo e Investigacin en ComunidadesEspeciales) a group that serves as a link and support to various low income and marginalcommunities across San Juan, was especially useful in choosing sites and helping arrange theparticipation of the community leaders.

FIELD TRIP MAP


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A. Key socio-ecological issues and observations identified at each stop of the field

trip: Note: Some of the points include quotations from community leaders.

Stop 1- Caimito (Sector Morcelo, La Curva)Hayde Colon, of the community group Comisin de Ciudadanos al Rescate de Caimito, joined us

at this highest point of the Rio Piedras Watershed (to the north) and headwaters of RioGuaynabo and Rio Grande de Loiza watersheds to the South and West respectively. Shethen joined us for the rest of the field trip stops.

Some of the issues discussed at this point include:

The land use at this point is rural over steep slopes. Urbansprawl is affecting water bodies. Regulation 25 dealing withtree removals is not followed by developers. Housingdevelopments for the rich cause floods in the poorcommunities.

In the past the land was used for agriculture. Productswere sold at the Plaza del Mercado de Rio Piedras. From 1936to 1960 the concept of agriculture schools was promoted. Agriculture schools then disappeared, which discouragedagriculture and benefit development.

The flooding problem in the basin is not the rain, but what we did to the land. Forexample, the burial of Quebrada Chiclana to build houses is a sources ofdownstream flooding. In the Chiclana example, the burial of the creek was reversedin court in the year 2000.

Caimito was established when free slaves moved to the area. After that, the land wasdivided in parcelas. New comers are professional couples that started rehabilitatingabandoned houses due to their economic situation. They returned to Caimitobecause of land inheritance.

We have no homeless people in Caimito, there is a sense or community here.

Stop 2- Montehiedra Bridge

You can see the Ro Piedras below this bridge. It hassediment due to soil erosion caused by upstreamdevelopment.

The riparian zone is mostly a natural forest of yagrumowith few introduced species.

Reactive environmentalists, owners of newly constructedhouses that are now affected by new developments.

Developers constructed houses over the streams thatflowed to the Ro Piedras.

In the urbanization rboles de Montehiedra, there are seven (7) streams buried in thearea.


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Stop 3- Comunidad BorinquenDoa Gloria is a community leader of the Comunidad Borinquen that voiced communityconcerns about the flooding problem, its causes and consequences. This community is inthe lowlands and receives flood waters from Caimito and the metropolitan area in between.

One of the areas in San Juan that is most vulnerable toflooding risks.

Before they built the highway and canalized the river, thearea was a mangrove system. Filling was placed over themangroves and the Quebrada Margarita was contained in achannel.

The community is flooded by the Ro Piedras. Originally,the mangrove controlled the flooding, received andabsorbed the extra water. Now the channeling makes thewater go inside the houses. The hydraulic capacity is not enough. A pumping systemwas installed and managed by the community.

Industries in the areas drained polluted water into the stream.

A meeting with the communities is proposed to discuss flooding situation.

Stop 4- Parque Central

Final point and intersection of the Ro Piedras and SanJuan Bay Estuary.

At the Cao Martn Pena, we saw water hyacinthsfloating from as far away as Carraizo Reservoir, manykilometers upstream.

Ro Piedras has more sediment than most rivers in PuertoRico and drains it in the San Juan Bay Estuary. Underneath one of the busiest avenues in the city,

residents fish for tarpon, a native mangrove species.

B. Field trip highlights:

Set the context through a mountain and communitys view of San Juan. Scientific and local knowledge exchange Spanning disciplinary boundaries among natural and social sciences Building bridges between science and society Initiated long-term interaction between science and the community through San Juan

ULTRA


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Interdisciplinary Research Workshop August 16, 2008

Following the field trip we heldthe interdisciplinaryworkshop at the International Institute for Tropical

Forestry (IITF) located at the Botanical Gardens. Theobjective of this workshop was for researchers fromdiverse disciplinary and professional backgrounds tocollectively generate a research concept for San JuanULTRA that addresses key socio-ecological issues inSan Juan city and concerns from stakeholders andcommunities. A total of 29 researchers from variousacademic institutions in the region attended (about

half of which also attended the field trip) and contributed a wide range of disciplinaryperspectives, including: forest ecology, aquatic ecology, community ecology, landscapeecology, environmental science, geography, sociology, history, anthropology, environmentalpolicy and governance, environmental economics, and planning, among others.

The first part of the meeting consisted on identifying the pressing socio-ecological issuesthat San Juan ULTRA should address. Tischa Muoz-Erickson gave a power pointpresentation (Appendix 3) with a summary of the review of scientific, policy, media, andpopular literature on socio-ecological issues in San Juan (Muoz-Erickson, in review), andpreliminary analysis of the stakeholder and researcher assessments identified throughinterviews and surveys (described in Appendix 1). The group then deliberated on theseissues, as well as missing aspects, and generated a more extensive list of issues (see listbelow).

Before prioritizing issues and developing research questions, the group asked for more

information about the ULTRA Network goals. Because the Request For Proposal (RFP) isstill in development, and therefore unavailable, the group was concerned about the lack ofinformation as to the conceptual frameworks and research requirements of ULTRA, as wellas its funding and institutional structure. Some were also confused as to the relationshipbetween ULTRA and the Long Term Ecological Research Program (LTER), of which thereis one established in the Luquillo Experimental Forest

Two US Forest Service representatives clarified the objectives of ULTRA (as known at thetime of the meeting) and its overlap with the LTER. The LTER is a scientific researchprogram of the National Science Foundation that began in 1988 with the purpose ofestablishing long term ecological research sites across the United States. The Luquillo LTER

was established in the Luquillo Experimental Forest and has been conducting ecosystemecology research for 20 years. This research site has collected extensive meteorological,physical, and biological knowledge which is available for reference for this proposal.ULTRA draws on similar research ideas to establish a network of urban sites for long termsocio-ecological research through a long term funding infrastructure. The unique aspects ofthe ULTRA network is its interdisciplinary focus to understand social and ecological trendsand processes in urban sites (the LTER has only two urban sites), and its commitment toprovide useful and relevant knowledge to address environmental health and quality of lifeissues in cities. The ULTRA Network (and RFP) is being developed and will be supported


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by both the US Forest Service and the National Science Foundation. The InternationalInstitute of Tropical Forestry (IITF) will host the San Juan ULTRA and be responsible forthe administration of the project. It is anticipated that most of the funding will go to themaintenance of the scientific infrastructure in San Juan and collaborative research will allULTRA participants.

Given this background, the group then discussed concepts and cross-cutting themes thatwould serve as the overarching framework that will inform more detailed research questionsand approaches for the San Juan ULTRA once the RFP is distributed. Suggestions includedconsulting existing frameworks, such as the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment by UnitedNations (http://www.millenniumassessment.org/en/article.aspx?id=58 ) and the UrbanResilience Framework by the Resilience Alliance (Barnett et al. in review), for categories andindicators that can be used as reference. It was also suggested that we identify issues orquestions that we already have information for and we are able to answer. The group alsodid a listing of concepts that seemed to transcend disciplinary boundaries (cross-cuttingthemes), such as:

Vulnerability (opposite of sustainability), related to resilience and efficiency. Conceptthat can be used and worked with.

Legacies (historical and cultural) Trans-disciplinary (mechanism) Connection flaws or how does connectivity of biophysical and social networks

influence the system:o Vulnerabilityo Flowo Energyo Governanceo Environmental management and governance

We then formed two working groups (consisting of a mix of natural and social scientists foreach) to generate conceptual ideas and research approaches based on the themes listed above(see below for a detailed list of themes that each group developed). Once the entire groupcame back together and reflected on these ideas, we synthesized the emerging themes andformulated an overarching research question and approach,

What is the long term relationship between biophysical and social networkson system vulnerability and governance in San Juan?

With this approach, the study aims to describe physical, ecological, and social connectivity ofSan Juan's socio-ecological system in the context of its natural and social vulnerabilities. In

so doing we aim to improve the environment and quality of life of the people of San Juan

We agreed that the next steps should involve further engagement with stakeholders andresearchers. The group pointed out the imbalance of the natural and social sciences and thatwe should continue efforts to engage social scientists in the development of the proposal.We also discussed how to continue and expand the stakeholder engagement process throughinterviews, invitations, as well as, collaborative meetings or workshops. A meeting inDecember, when we expect to have a fleshed out outline of the proposal but before it takesfull shape, would be an appropriate time to have such a meeting.


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The next steps in the development of the proposal include gathering more feedback frompotential research collaborators, specially those that were not able to attend the meeting,initiate a literature review of the concepts and approaches discussed at the meeting, andorganizing working teams and meetings to piece together an integrated research proposal

A. List of social and ecological issues identified by the group.

Regional climate change, north Caribbean drought, change in temperature 5 degrees.1-1.5 mm of rainfall, water available, and rain pattern changed.

Soil infrastructure change and relationship with available water, waste water, andwater runoff. Rain and septic systems- shared, affect the estuary and San Juan Bay.

Marine part has to be considered, watershed goes beyond the shore. Corals aremarkers and are also important for tourism and safety (hurricanes).

San Juan Bay Estuary needs to be considered as part of the project. Community- need to educate them on the importance of the ecosystem and its

relation to quality of life. Need to consider connections:

o Green spaceso Connectivityo Accesso Diversity patternso Scale issues

People use and accessibility. Public housings- important to take them in consideration. Power structure- drug dealers. Moving people and materials along the watershed:

o Drug pointso Anti drug pointso Geographyo Obstacles, barriers.

Politicians, policy makers- how to communicate and relate to them. Communitypressure is important.

Fisheries:o Fishermen aware of changes.o Know fish moved because of runoff and sediment.o Crab fishing and tropical estuaries.o Overharvesting.o Coast Guard regulations, keep fishermen out of business.

Historical legacy, cultural, highway divided communities. Cupey example-development happened so fast and without any special considerations. Rain andsewage system overloaded.

Development indicators, for example, fish native species that are in the Rio Piedras. Study of the urban forests in the presence of pollution. Change sensors. Pride on local resources, people feel good about the environment.


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Efficiency, better term than sustainability (use of resources, integration of ideas,implementing projects). Need to establish proper terminology.

Taxes, industries dont pay taxes, industry reform designed to benefit industries. Tax code/ property value, Land use/land value.

B. Key themes and approaches that emerged from the small group discussions

Group 1:

Connectivity general social term, everything isconnected (definitions and metrics, top down vs. bottomup)

Physical, ecological and social community influence socialand ecological vulnerability.

How does physical, ecological, economic and socialconnectivities influence governance or environmentalmanagement?

How to measure and what?- river (hydrological)- road network- changes in stream/road/and community network- micro-climate- gated vs. ungated communities- flooded vs. upland communities- social organizations

Group 2:

(Related to connectivity and adjacency)

Ecological/corridors (can be bad, as in the spreadof invasive species) Social Isolation (gated, high rises) Degree of connection not always good. History for example, how does class adjacency of the

poor and middle class neighborhoods affect connectivity?

Urbanization (gated communities) Information management how does word of mouth affect what people do

(positive or negative)?

Jobs, construction sector, fisheries laws. Transportation lack of public transportation and its effect on community well-

being(Related to networks)

Jobs networks, transportation, traffic Social and physical network overflow (e.g. water, people) Difference between studying vs. restoring connectivity (e.g. hydrology storage) Development, permit approval, impact of footprint Experiments (e.g. impact of green roofs, low development construction) Perceptions.


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References Cited

Barnett, G., T. Elmqvist, C. Redman, B. Walker, A. Kearns and X. Bai. In review. Exploringurban resilience: a research framework focusing on urban landscapes as complex adaptive

systems. Ecology and Society.

Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. United Nations.http://www.millenniumassessment.org/en/article.aspx?id=58

Muoz-Erickson, T. A. In review. Establishing an urban ecology site in San Juan, PuertoRico: Where do we start? Cities and the Environment Journal

ULTRA Network link: http://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/urban/ultra/


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Appendix 1

San Juan ULTRA Needs Assessment Survey

Recently, the USDA Forest Service approved the establishment of Urban Long TermResearch Areas (ULTRA) in cities across the US to better link the prospects ofenvironmental health and quality of life in urban areas through research, application, and

education. The city of San Juan has been proposed has a potential ULTRA site. The

purpose of this survey is to better understand the range of perspectives on urbanenvironmental problems in San Juan and what information and knowledge is most needed

to address them. This information will assist in the planning process for developing the

San Juan ULTRA as a collaborative research program aimed at meeting stakeholdersneeds and concerns. This survey will take approximately 20 minutes to fill out. Your

participation in this survey is completely voluntary. We greatly appreciate your valuable

time and participation in this effort.

1. Please list up to five urban environmental issues that San Juan city faces.

a. What do you thinkis the most pressing urban environmental issue? Please brieflydescribe the causes and potential solutions to this problem.

2. In order to understand urban environmental issues broadly in San Juan, do you think

we need more information or knowledge? ____Yes _____No _____NoOpinion

a. If you answeredyes, please list up tofive urban environmental information gaps?

3. At what geographic scale or spatial units do you think research should focus on themost to understand the urban environmental issues in San Juan? Why?

4. Please list any information, datasets ortoolsyou or your organizationmight be able to

contribute in orderto better understand and manage the urban environment in San Juan

(and if possible, the scale of analysis that the information or data was taken).

For the following questions, please check the response that best fits your view.

5. Policy-making in San Juan is informed by science.

___ Always ___Most of the time ___Sometimes ___Rarely ___Never ___NoOpinion


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6. Scientific research in San Juan is informed by social and policy concerns.

___ Always ___Most of the time ___Sometimes ___Rarely ___Never ___NoOpinion

7. Considering your answer to the previous questions, please take a brief moment to

explain your response. In other words, how would you describe the existing relationship

between science and decision-making in San Juan? What is working and/or notworking?

8. Many terms are used to describe urban environmental issues. In the spaces below,

please briefly describe in a sentence or two what these terms mean to you and then

check whether your work addresses related issues. (If you are not sure how to describe

these terms, please list any words or phrases that come to mind when you think of the

term).

a. Urban forestry:Applies to your work? ____Yes ____No

b. Urban ecology:Applies to your work? ____Yes ____No

c. Urban sustainability:Applies to your work? ____Yes ____No

d. Are there any other terms that you would find useful to describe urban

environmental issues?

9. Please list 5 organizations/institutions that you consult with the most (or ask questions

more frequently) to obtain information and/or data about the San Juan urban environmentor ecology?


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10. Please rank the research themes listed below based on how important you think they

are for urban environmental research in San Juan. Please rate the potential research

topics below by checking the appropriate box. Scores of 5 indicate highest priority

and scores of 1 indicate lowest priority.

1 (lowest) 2 3 4 5 (highest)

a. Air quality b. Biodiversity and habitat

c. Built environment

d. Economic growth and development

e. Environmental justice

f. Environmental attitudes and behavior

g. Global climate change

h. Land use and land cover change

i. Open space and parks

j. Public health

k. Water quality l. Water quantity

m. Resilience and sustainability

n. Urban forests o. Urban heat island

p. Other? __________________________

q. Other? __________________________

11. Background Information

a. How many years have you lived in the San Juan area? ____________b. What is your profession/occupation?c. What is your area of study or scientific discipline?d. What is the name of your employing institution/organization?e. How many years have you been working on environmental issues in San

Juan? _______f. What is your age? ___20-30 years ___31-40 years ___41-50 years ___51-

60 years ___>60

g. Are you: __ Female ____ Male12. Finally, as we prepare for planning meetings, we are trying to assess the priorityresearch areas for the ULTRA efforts. If you have any research ideas or questions of

interest on urban environmental issues in San Juan, please take a moment to describe

them briefly here.

Thank you for your participation!

We will keep you informed of ULTRA efforts.


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Appendix 2


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Appendix 3

meeting report 8.08 san juan ultra 3

Documents