Groundwater Is Key to Protecting Global Ecosystems

We’re proud to be part of an international team that just published a landmark study in Nature—the first global map of groundwater-dependent ecosystems.

These ecosystems vary widely, from desert springs to mountain meadows and streams to coastal wetlands. They’re often hot spots for biological diversity, and they’re under increasing threat from climate change and human exploitation. Until now, their locations have been largely unknown, making it hard to protect them.

The findings are sobering: 53% of these ecosystems are in areas with known groundwater depletion, while only 21% exist on protected lands.

“Taken as a whole, we’ve generated many high-impact studies using new satellite approaches to map and monitor the resilience of riparian forests,” Kelly said. “This paper is probably the jewel in that crown, and many folks helped mine it.”

The study builds on years of collaborative work with UCSB colleagues Dar Roberts and Michael Singer on riparian resilience, starting with research in the Santa Clara River valley during the extreme drought of the mid-2010s.

Read the full story at UCSB Current →