About Christopher Kuzdas

Christopher Kuzdas

Arizona Water Program Director, Climate Resilient Water Systems

Contact

Remote Office

Work

Areas of expertise:

Water management and governance; public policy; decision support; social-ecological systems; risk management; rural development and planning

Christopher Kuzdas, Ph.D., serves as the Water Program Director for Environmental Defense Fund in Arizona, a program with a mission to secure water security for all people and with over 85,000 members in the state. He serves on the Governor’s Water Policy Council and collaborates with local communities to shape water-related decisions that impact them and ensure public policy outcomes reflect local values and goals. He actively works with farmers, community leaders, elected officials, Tribes, local governments and businesses across the state and beyond.

Background

Prior to joining EDF in 2015, Chris worked in Central America on community and agricultural development and local water issues. His work has been recognized by the National Science Foundation, the Fulbright program, the Global Water Forum and more. Originally from Northern Arizona, Chris still lives there with his family. He is active in his local community, coaching his daughter’s mountain bike team, teaching at his local community college, and volunteering with the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Team.

Education


Ph.D., Sustainability, Arizona State University

M.P.A., Arizona State University

B.A.S., Arizona State University

Publications

Kuzdas, C., Warner, B., Wiek, A., Yglesias, M., Vignola, R., & Ramírez-Cover, A. (2016). Identifying the potential of governance regimes to aggravate or mitigate local water conflicts in regions threatened by climate change. Local Environment.

Kuzdas, C., Warner, B., Wiek, A., Vignola, R., Yglesias, M., & Childers, D. (2016). Sustainability assessment of water governance alternatives: The case of Guanacaste, Costa Rica. Sustainability Science.

Warner, B. & Kuzdas, C. (2016). Manufactured global change risk pathways in industrial-based agrarian development. Climate and Development.

Wiek, A., Bernstein, M.J., Foley, R.W., Cohen, M., Forrest, N., Kuzdas, C., Kay, B., Withycombe Keeler, L. (2016). Operationalising Competencies in Higher Education for Sustainable Development. In: Barth, M., Michelsen, G., Rieckmann, M., Thomas, I. (Eds.) Routledge Handbook of Higher Education for Sustainable Development, pp. 241-260. Routledge: London and New York.

Kuzdas, C., Wiek, A., Warner, B., Vignola, R., & Morataya, R. (2015). Integrated and participatory analysis of water governance regimes: The case of the Costa Rican dry tropics. World Development, 66, 254-268.

Warner, B., Kuzdas, C., Yglesias, M., & Childers, D. (2015). Limits to adaptation to interacting global change risks among smallholder rice farmers in Northwest Costa Rica. Global Environmental Change, 30, 101-112.

Warner, B. & Kuzdas, C. (2015). Origins of water scarcity in rural development in the Costa Rican dry tropics: Neoliberalism, international trade, and climate change. GWF Discussion Paper, UNESCO Global Water Forum, Canberra, Australia.

Kuzdas, C. & Wiek, A. (2014). Governance scenarios for addressing water conflicts and climate change impacts. Environmental Science & Policy, 42, 181-196.

Kuzdas, C., Wiek, A., Warner, B., Vignola, R., & Morataya, R. (2014). Sustainability appraisal of water governance regimes — The case of Guanacaste, Costa Rica. Environmental Management, 54(2), 205-222.

Kuzdas, C., Yglesias, M., & Warner, B. (2013). Governing Costa Rica’s Water Resources. The Solutions Journal 4(4), 31-36. English Spanish

Kuzdas, C., Yglesias, M., Wiek, A., & Vignola, R. (2013). Sustainable Water Governance in Guanacaste: Future Scenarios and Strategies. Comisión para el Manejo de las Cuencas Potrero-Caimital. Nicoya, Guanacaste, Costa Rica (Spanish)

Kuzdas C. (2012). Unpacking water conflict in Guanacaste, Costa Rica. GWF Discussion Paper 1242, UNESCO Global Water Forum, Canberra, Australia.

Yglesias, M. & Kuzdas, C. (2012). Water Management in Guanacaste: Toward a Sustainable Future? Voz de Nosara/Voz de Guanacaste, November (Spanish)

Kuzdas, C., Yglesias, M., Wiek, A., Warner, B., Vignola, R., & Morataya, R. (2012). Sustainability assessment of water systems and water governance in the Portrero, Caimital, and Upper Nosara Watersheds. Comisión para el Manejo de las Cuencas Potrero-Caimital. Nicoya, Guanacaste, Costa Rica (Spanish)

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