Aaron Koning | Department of Biology

Summary

Aaron is a freshwater conservation ecologist interested in understanding the impacts of harvest on aquatic animal communities and ecosystem function, and how conservation interventions can improve outcomes that sustain aquatic diversity and human needs.

Aaron first developed an interest in understanding the impacts of harvest on freshwater ecosystems over four years teaching field-based courses on sustainability while embedded within local communities throughout Thailand. During his research as a PhD student at University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Center for Limnology (advised by Pete McIntyre) and as a Cornell Atkinson Sustainability Postdoctoral Fellowship (co-created with Robin Abell of Conservation International and Michele Thieme of World Wildlife Fund), Aaron had the privilege of living with and learning from ethnic Karen (P’gan’yaw) communities in northern Thailand. He focused on the ecological effects of both intensive subsistence fisheries and freshwater reserve protection by these communities. Aaron was awarded the 2023 Hynes Award for New Investigators by the Society for Freshwater Science for this work, which translates into the language of conservation scientists what these communities have recognized over the past three decades—that small reserves can have profound effects on entire riverine ecosystems.

Aaron is currently a Postdoctoral Research Fellow working with Zeb Hogan and Sudeep Chandra on the Wonders of the Mekong Project based in the Global Water Center and Department of Biology at the University of Nevada, Reno and a National Geographic Young Explorer. He continues to seek effective models of place-based protection for fish and fisheries around the world, with an emphasis on Southeast Asia.

Research interests

• Freshwater ecology
• Community-based conservation
• Inland fisheries
• Area-based protection
• Trophic dynamics of freshwater systems

Supervisor: Zeb Hogan

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 14: Life Below Water
• SDG 15: Life on Land

Explanation:

The article discusses Aaron’s research interests in freshwater ecology, community-based conservation, inland fisheries, and area-based protection. These topics are directly related to the conservation and sustainable management of aquatic ecosystems (SDG 14) and terrestrial ecosystems (SDG 15).

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 14.4: By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based management plans, in order to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible, at least to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their biological characteristics (SDG 14)
• Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species (SDG 15)

Explanation:

The article mentions Aaron’s focus on the ecological effects of intensive subsistence fisheries and freshwater reserve protection by local communities. These activities are directly related to the need for effective regulation of harvesting and fishing practices (Target 14.4) to restore fish stocks and ensure maximum sustainable yield. Additionally, Aaron’s research interests in community-based conservation and area-based protection align with the target of protecting and preventing the extinction of threatened species and reducing habitat degradation (Target 15.5).

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

No specific indicators are mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Source: unr.edu

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