Benefits and costs of natural resources policies affecting ecosystem services on public and private lands

Natural resource agencies and institutions at the federal, state, and local levels, as well as private landowners, attempt to balance economic growth and environmental quality. Emphasis on environmental quality is evident in provisions of the most recent Farm Bills; in agricultural land preservation programs at the local, state and federal levels; and in legislative mandates to federal agencies to justify their decisions regarding how natural resources are to be managed, including protecting environmental quality, providing wildlife habitat, and providing access for recreation. The proposed research is responsive to these institutional demands and mandates. Joint with outputs from other states, this Maine-based research strives to improve federal, state, local and private institutional decision-making with respect to managing land and water resources and to advance methods and support for the provision of ecosystem goods and services. This research can help these institutions save costs and time by tapping into state-of-the-art valuation and behavioral analyses.

Investigator: Bell, K.

Unit: School of Economics

Termination Date: 30-Sep-17