Indigenous Peoples across the Arctic have adapted to environmental change since time immemorial, yet recent climate change has imposed unprecedented and abrupt changes that affect the land and sea upon which communities rely. Co-created community-based observing programs offer an opportunity to harness the holistic breadth of knowledge in communities with the goal of tracking Arctic change while simultaneously supporting community priorities and local-scale needs. The Alaska Arctic Observatory and Knowledge Hub (AAOKH) is a network of Iñupiaq observers from northern Alaska coastal communities working in partnership with academic researchers. Here, we describe five core functions that have emerged through AAOKH, which include tracking long-term environmental changes; communicating Indigenous-led observations of the environment and their meaning; place-based and culturally relevant education; enabling scientific and Indigenous Knowledge exchange; and supporting community-led responses to environmental change. We outline and discuss specific actions and opportunities that have been used to increase knowledge exchange of AAOKH observations, make space for the next generation of Indigenous scholars, and create locally relevant data products and syntheses that can inform resource management and community planning. We also discuss our ongoing efforts to increasingly shift toward a knowledge coproduction framework as we plan to sustain AAOKH into the future.

Overfishing causes a significant decline in blue swimming crab (Portunus pelagicus) populations, an essential marine resource for Thailand. This research aimed to identify suitable nursery areas for this species throughout the four distinct monsoon seasons. This is the first comprehensive study of habitat characteristics: water temperature, pH, salinity, dissolved oxygen, marine sediment, seagrass beds, and suitability assessment of nursery areas, using a combined approach of Analytic Hierarchy Process and Geographic Information Systems. Our findings reveal that highly suitable nursery habitats comprise a small percentage of the total study area, varying with the monsoon season: 1.66% in the Northeast Monsoon (NEMS), 1.00% in the NEMS transition (NEMST), 1.11% in the Southwest Monsoon (SWMS), and 1.97% in the SWMS transition (SWMST). These areas are concentrated along the coastlines of Sed Island, Phum Riang, Takrob, Tha Thong, and Donsak. Sed Island was designated as a fishery refuge zone in 2022. The identified nursery areas coincide with existing crab banks, highlighting the model's accuracy. Conversely, unsuitable areas were predominantly in shellfish farming zones and low-salinity estuaries. By identifying suitable nursery grounds for the blue swimming crab, this study offers valuable information that can support Thailand's sustainable management and conservation efforts for this species. Doi: 10.28991/HEF-2024-05-03-01 Full Text: PDF

Youth-focused community and citizen science (CCS) is increasingly used to promote science learning and to increase the accessibility of the tools of scientific research among historically marginalized and underserved communities. CCS projects are frequently categorized according to their level of public participation and their distribution of power between professional scientists and participants from collaborative and co-created projects to projects where participants have limited roles within the science process. In this study, we examined how two different CCS models, a contributory design and a co-created design, influenced science self-efficacy and science interest among youth CCS participants. We administered surveys and conducted post-program interviews with youth participation in two different CCS projects in Alaska, the Winterberry Project and Fresh Eyes on Ice, each with a contributory and a co-created model. We found that youth participating in co-created CCS projects reflected more often on their science self-efficacy than did youth in contributory projects. The CCS program model did not influence youths’ science interest, which grew after participating in both contributory and co-created projects. Our findings suggest that when youth have more power and agency to make decisions in the science process, as in co-created projects, they have greater confidence in their abilities to conduct science. Further, participating in CCS projects excites and engages youth in science learning, regardless of the CCS program design.

Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana L.) generates over 88 billion USD in export revenue to Thailand annually but is restrained due to fruit defects. This study aimed to determine whether smart irrigation with sensors, IoT, and real-time data collection for regulating stable soil water content affects mangosteen fruit quantity and quality. Climate, soil, and mangosteen parameters were compared between irrigated and non-irrigated productions. Flowering and fruit yield data were collected from twenty randomly selected mangosteen trees per irrigation treatment. The results showed that air and soil temperatures were lower, but relative humidity and soil moisture on mangosteen production were greater in irrigated trees than in non-irrigated trees. Irrigated and non-irrigated mangosteen trees showed no significant difference in trunk diameter or crown size. Irrigation boosted mangosteen yields with increased flowers, fruits, and weight but thinner peels, fewer pulp segments, and a higher vulnerability to fruit imperfections. The mean fruit circumference did not differ significantly between non-irrigated and irrigated mangosteen production systems. Mangosteen fruits in irrigated production had fewer fruit defects than those in non-irrigated production. Regulated irrigated mangosteen production with stable soil moisture using soil moisture sensors and IoT produced high-quantity and quality mangosteens with fewer fruit defects. Doi: 10.28991/HEF-2024-05-02-05 Full Text: PDF

This study aimed to: (1) quantify aboveground biomass (AGB) and carbon (AGC) stocks in the Banlaem mangrove forest, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand; and (2) construct an AGB estimation model using vegetation indices (VIs) derived from Sentinel-2, Landsat-8, and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) imagery. On-the-ground measurements were carried out to evaluate the AGB and AGC stocks of the mangrove forest. VIs were then calculated using passive remote sensing data, including satellite and UAV imagery. These indices were compared through multiple regression analysis with the ground-truthed AGB for evaluation. Three mangrove species were found: Rhizophora mucronata, R. apiculata, and Avicennia Marina. Overall, the AGB and AGC stocks ranged from 0 to 179.78 tons•ha¹ (56.30 ± 51.81 tons•ha¹) and 0 to 89.89 tons•ha¹ (28.15 ± 25.90 tons•ha¹), respectively. The best AGB model exhibited an R² of 0.73 and an RMSE of 22.0 tons•ha¹. This study presents a novel approach for estimating AGB and AGC stocks in the Thai mangrove ecosystem by integrating a UAV with two open-access satellite imagery sources. Combining multiple VIs (NDVI, SAVI, and GNDVI) with CHM provides better accuracy for the mangrove AGB estimation model than using a single variable.

Land-use change and recovery patterns of mangroves in the Tha Sak subdistrict, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand, were examined utilizing multi-temporal Landsat images and socio-economic data from 1988 to 2023. Land use was classified through visual interpretation, and potential changes were predicted using a Markov chain model. The results showed a significant expansion of mangrove forests (1.11 km² to 9.10 km²), indicating a clear recovery. At the same time, the aquaculture area decreased drastically (from 25.69 km² to 8.79 km²), indicating a significant change in land use. The recovery of mangroves is primarily attributed to the cessation of aquaculture and the active involvement of the Tha Sak subdistrict's Small-Scale Fishermen Group, highlighting the success of community-based restoration. This study provides evidence of the critical role local communities play in bringing about positive environmental change and enabling Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 15: Life on Land from ecosystem restoration, SDG 14: Life Below Water for conservation of coastal areas, and SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities for increasing community resilience. Involving local communities in mangrove restoration and preservation is key to long-term sustainability.