Resilient Landscapes

We collaborate with non-profits, community groups, government agencies and others to support mauka to makai policy and management decisions for multiple ecological, social, cultural, and economic benefits. Current projects focus on fire risk reduction, nature-based solutions for water, and biocultural restoration.

Fire Risk Reduction

Costs and benefits of land transitions for fire risk reduction

Approximately a quarter of land in Hawaiʻi is currently fallow or un-managed fallow agricultural land. Much of these lands are dominated by invasive, un-managed grasslands, which pose significant fire risk and provide little benefit to society. We are actively working to support land managers in transitioning these lands through compiling and synthesizing the costs and benefits of various options for fire risk reduction, including green breaks, native reforestation, renewable energy, grazing, agroforestry, and other agriculture. Our aim is to inform funding and policy mechanisms that support fire resilient landscapes for multiple ecological, social, cultural, and economic benefits.

Understanding fire risk and adaptive capacity across the wildland urban interface

We are working to understand how fire risk and adaptive capacity varies spatially across communities in the wildland urban interface to inform pre-, during- and post-fire response policy.

Bond Smith, S., Bremer, L.L, Burnett, K., Trauernicht, C., Wada, C. Reducing fire risk and restoring value to fallow agricultural lands. UHERO Blog, 23 October 2023.

Cleveland, R., Trauernicht, C., Bremer, L., Pickett, E., & Oleson, K. L. (2024). Guiding Fuzzy Cognitive Mapping with Structured Decision Making to Inform Complex Natural Resource Management Problems in Waiʻanae Hawaiʻi. Community Science, 3(2), e2023CSJ000060. https://doi-org.eres.library.manoa.hawaii.edu/10.1029/2023CSJ000060

Wada, C., Bremer, L.L, Burnett, K., Trauernicht, C., Giambelluca, T., Mandle, L., Parsons, E., Weil, C., Kurashima, N., & Ticktin, T. (2017) Estimating cost-effectiveness of dry forest restoration using spatial changes in water yield and landscape flammability under climate change. Pacific Science. 71(4), 401-424. https://doi.org/10.2984/71.4.2

Investments in Watershed Protection and Restoration

Nature-based solutions for water

A recent global report found ~50 billion dollars were invested in ‘nature-based solutions’ for water, including reforestation, wetland restoration, and agricultural and grazing management. We are collaborating with American Forests and Forest Trends to understand and support existing, emerging, and potential funding and policy mechanisms to support watershed protection and restoration in Hawaiʻi.

Quantifying the value of watershed protection

ISR and UHERO have collaborated with The Nature Conservancy and others to model the groundwater recharge benefits of native forest protection and restoration.

Read the 2025 Kaua‘i Watershed Report

Supporting ʻāina-based solutions for flooding

Through a project funded by the Cooperative Institute for Research to Operations in Hydrology (CIROH), we are working to understand and support community flood resilience and the relationship between mālama ʻāina and flood risk reduction.

Bremer, L.L., Brauman, K.A. and Echavarría, M., 2023. Toward more equitable ecosystem investment programs—Adaptation and equity are central to the design and functioning of successful water funds. Conservation Letters, p.e12974. https://doi.org/10.1111/conl.12974

Bremer, L.L., Nelson, S., Jackson, S., Izquierdo-Tort, S., Lansing, D., Shapiro-Garza, E., Echavarría, M., Upton, C., Asquith, N., Isyaku, U. and Asiyanbi, A., 2023. Embedding local values in Payments for Ecosystem Services for transformative change. Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, 64, p.101354. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cosust.2023.101354

Kang, S., Kroeger, T., Shemie, D., Echavarria, M., Montalvo, T., Bremer, L.L., Bennett, G., Barreto, S.R., Bracale, H., Calero, C. and Cardenas, A., (2023). Investing in nature-based solutions: Cost profiles of collective-action watershed investment programs. Ecosystem Services, 59, 101507. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoser.2022.101507

Bremer, L.L., Keeler, B., Walker, R., Sterling, S., & Pascua, P. (2021). Nature-based solutions, sustainable development, and equity. In: Cassin, J., Lopez-Gunn, E, & Matthews, J. Nature-Based Solutions and Water Security: An agenda for the 21st century. Elsevier.

Brauman, K. A., Bremer, L. L., Hamel, P., Ochoa-Tocachi, B. F., Roman-Dañobeytia, F., Bonnesoeur, V., et al. (2022). Producing valuable information from hydrologic models of nature-based solutions for water. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management, 18(1), 135–147. https://doi.org/10.1002/ieam.4511

Bremer, L.L., DeMaagd, N., Wada, C. A., & Burnett, K. M. (2021). Priority watershed management areas for groundwater recharge and drinking water protection: A case study from Hawai ‘i Island. Journal of Environmental Management, 286, 111622. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.111622

Bremer, L.L., Elshall, A.S., Wada, C.A., Brewington, L., Delevaux, J.M.S., El-Kadi, A.I., Voss, C.I., & Burnett, K.M. (2021). Effects of land cover and watershed protection futures on sustainable groundwater management in Hawaiʻi. Hydrogeology Journal, 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-021-02310-6

Bremer L.L, Hamel P, Ponette-González A.G., Pompeu P.V., Saad S.I., & Brauman, K.A. (2020). Who Are we Measuring and Modeling for? Supporting Multilevel Decision-Making in Watershed Management. Water Resources Research, 56, e2019WR026011. https://doi.org/10.1029/2019WR026011

Hamel P, Bremer L.L, Ponette-González A.G., Acosta E, Fisher J.R.B., Steele B, Cavassani A.T., Klemz C., Blainski E., & Brauman, K.A. (2020). The value of hydrologic information for watershed management programs: The case of Camboriú, Brazil. Science of the Total Environment, 705 (135871). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135871

Nelson S.H., Bremer L.L, Meza Prado, K. & Brauman, K.A. (2020). The Political Life of Natural Infrastructure: Water Funds and Alternative Histories of Payments for Ecosystem Services in Valle del Cauca, Colombia Development and Change, 51(1), 26–50. https://doi.org/10.1111/dech.12544

Hayes, T., Grillos, T., Bremer, L.L., Murtinho, F. and Shapiro, E. (2019). Collective PES: More than the sum of individual incentives. Environmental Science & Policy, 102, 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2019.09.010

Bremer, L.L., Wada, C.A., Medoff, S., Falinski, K., & Burnett, K.M. (2019). Contributions of native forest protection to water supplies in East Maui. Science of the Total Environment, 688, 1422-1432. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.06.220

Delevaux, J.M.S., Stamoulis, K.A., Whittier, R., Jupiter, S.D., Bremer, L.L, Friedlander, A., Kurashima, N., Giddens, J., Winter, K., Blaich-Vaughan, M., Burnett, K., Geslani, C., & Ticktin T. (2019). Local place-based management can reduce human impacts on coral reefs. Ecological Applications, 29(4), e01891. https://doi.org/10.1002/eap.1891

Bremer, L.L., Farley, K.A., Demaagd, N., Suárez, E., Tandalla, D.C., Vasco, S., Patricio, T., & Vásconez, M. (2019). Biodiversity outcomes of payment for ecosystem services: lessons from páramo grasslands. Biodiversity and Conservation, 28, 885-898. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-019-01700-3

Burnett, K., Ticktin, T., Bremer, L.L., Quazi, S.A., Geslani, C., Wada, C.A., Kurashima, N., Mandle, L., Pascua, P., Depraetere, T., Wolkis, D., Edmonds, M., Giambelluca, T.W., Falinski, K., & Winter, K.B. (2019). Restoring to the future: environmental, cultural, and management tradeoffs in historical versus hybrid restoration of a highly modified ecosystem. Conservation Letters, 12 (1), e12606. https://doi.org/10.1111/conl.12606

Bremer, L.L., Falinski, K., Ching, C., Wada, C.A, Burnett, K.M, Kukea-Shultz, K., Reppun, N., Chun, G., Oleson, K., & Ticktin, T. (2018). Biocultural restoration of traditional agriculture: cultural, environmental, and economic outcomes of lo’i restoration in Heʻeia, Oʻahu. Sustainability, 10 (12), 4502. https://doi.org/10.3390/su10124502 (Part of a special issue on biocultural restoration in Hawaiʻi).

Bremer, L.L., Brauman, K.A., Nelson, S., Meza Prado, K., Wilburn, E., & Fiorini, A.C. (2018). Relational values in evaluations of social outcomes of payment for watershed services: a review. Current Opinions in Environmental Sustainability, 35, 116-123. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cosust.2018.10.024

Bremer, L. L., L. Mandle, C. Trauernicht, P. Pascua, H. L. McMillen, K. Burnett, C. A. Wada, N. Kurashima, S. Quazi, T. Giambelluca, P. Chock, & Ticktin, T. (2018). Bringing multiple values to the table: assessing future land-use and climate change in North Kona, Hawaiʻi. Ecology and Society, 23(1), 33. https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-09936-230133

Vogl, A.L., Goldstein, J.H., Daily, G.C.,Vira, B., Bremer, L.L., McDonald, R.I., Shemie, D. Tellman, B., & Cassin. J. (2017). Mainstreaming investments in watershed services to enhance water security: Barriers and opportunities. Environmental Science and Policy, 75, 19–27. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2017.05.007

Bremer, L.L., Farley, K.A., Chadwick, O.A., & Harden, C.P. (2016). Changes in carbon storage with land management promoted by payment for ecosystem services. Environmental Conservation, 43, 397–406. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0376892916000199

Bremer, L.L., Auerbach, D.A., Goldstein, J.H., Vogl, A.L., Shemie, D., Kroeger, T., Nelson, J.L., Benítez, S.P., Calvache, A., Guimarães, J., Herron, C., Higgins, J., Klemz, C., León, J., Sebastián, J., Moreno, P.H., Nuñez, F., Veiga, F., & Tiepolo, G. (2016). One size does not fit all: Natural infrastructure investments within the Latin American Water Funds Partnership. Ecosystem Services, 17, 217–236. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoser.2015.12.006

Naeem, S. Ingram, J.C., Varga, A., Agardy, T., Barten, P., Bennett, G., Bloomgarden, E., Bremer, L.L. et al. (2015). Getting the science right when paying for nature’s Services. Science. 347 (6227), 1206-1207. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aaa1403

Bremer, L.L., Delevaux, J., Leary, J.K., Cox, L.J., & Oleson, K.L. (2015). Opportunities and strategies to incorporate ecosystem services knowledge and decision support tools into planning and decision making in Hawaiʻi. Environmental Management. 55(4), 884-899.   https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-014-0426-4

Bremer, L.L., Farley, K.A., & Lopéz-Carr, D. (2014). Conservation and livelihood outcomes of payment for ecosystem services in the Ecuadorian Andes: what is the potential for win-win? Ecosystem Services 8, 148-165. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoser.2014.03.007

Bremer, L.L., Farley K.A., & Lopéz-Carr, D. (2014). What factors influence participation in Payment for Ecosystem Services programs? An evaluation of Ecuador’s SocioPáramo program. Land Use Policy, 36, 122-133. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2013.08.002

Benefits of agroforestry transitions across Hawaiʻi

Modeling agroforestry transitions

We are working with an interdisciplinary team to understand how broader agroforestry transitions can increase carbon storage, provide land-sea benefits, and reduce fire risk. We are also beginning work with the Institute for Pacific Islands Forestry to understand the financial resources needed to support agroforestry transitions.

Puʻulani Agroforestry Project

We collaborate with Kākoʻo ʻŌiwi, the Heʻeia NERR, the School of Life Sciences, NREM, PBRC, Sea Grant and others to design, care for, and monitor plant diversity and abundance, carbon storage and soil health, and social outcomes of a community-based agroforestry restoration effort in Heʻeia, Oʻahu.

Puʻulani Community Workdays

Delevaux, J.M.S., Stomoulis, K.A., Kurashima, N., Trauernicht, C., Ticktin, T., DeMaagd, N., Teneva, L., McGuire, G, Hastings Silao, Z., Bremer, L.L. Scaling biocultural initiatives can support, nature, food, and culture from summit to sea. (2025). npj Ocean Sustain 4, 5. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44183-024-00090-6

Bremer, L.L., McGuire, G., Hastings Silao, Z., Kurashima, N., Ticktin, T., Crow, S.E., Giardian, C.P., Winter, K.B., DeMaagd, N., & Trauernicht, C. (2025). Carbon benefits through agroforestry transitions on unmanaged fallow agricultural land in Hawaiʻi. Sci Rep 15, 5097. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-87891-y

Hastings, Z., Ticktin, T., Wong, M., Kukea-Shultz, K., & Bremer, L.L. (2023). Non-native fallows hold high potential for restoration through agroforestry in a Pacific Island Ecosystem. Agriculture, Ecosystems, and Environment. 324, 108214. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2022.108214

Melone, A., Bremer, L. L., Crow, S. E., Hastings, Z., Winter, K. B., Ticktin, T., Rii, Y.M., Wong, M., Kukea-Shultz, K., Watson, S.J., & Trauernicht, C. (2021). Assessing Baseline Carbon Stocks for Forest Transitions: A Case Study of Agroforestry Restoration from Hawaiʻi. Agriculture, 11(3), 189. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11030189

Hastings, Z., Ticktin, T., Botelho, M., Reppun, N., Kukea-Shultz, K., Wong, M., Melone, A., & Bremer, L.L. (2020). Integrating co-production and functional trait approaches for inclusive and scalable restoration solutions. Conservation Science and Practice, 2(9): e250. https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.250