Natural Resource Economics Commons^™

Integrating Incentive Design And Spatial Prioritization For Climate-Smart Forestry Adoption In South Carolina, United States, Miah Maye Pormon

All Dissertations

Forests provide essential ecosystem services, including carbon sequestration, water regulation, timber production, and habitat provision. However, increasing development pressures and land-use changes threaten forest persistence and long-run ecosystem service provision. Climate-smart forestry (CSF) practices, such as improved forest management and extended rotation, offer opportunities to enhance carbon storage, forest resilience, and economic livelihoods. The effectiveness of these practices depends on forest owners’ participation and the strategic allocation of financial resources or incentives. This dissertation develops an integrated framework that combines behavioral economic analysis and mapping to improve the design of current incentive programs. The first chapter employs the Contingent Valuation …

To Hold Or Sell Breeding Cattle In The Rangelands, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Animal production and livestock factsheets

In a dry season where feed, water and finances are limited, removing less productive animals as soon as possible is a good option. This will free up feed for more productive animals and help preserve ground cover.

This page provides some of the information and a process for making decisions about holding or selling breeding cattle.

Development Trends And Implications Of Muti-Objective Marine Environmental Forecasting Technology, Yineng Li, Yuhang Zhu, Shiqiu Peng, Zhiwu Chen, Xing Wei, Junmin Li, Shaodian Li, Peiwei Xie, Jiawen Liao, Yankun Gong, Shilin Tang, Shuqun Cai

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

With the continuous expansion of global maritime activities and the steady advancement of the “maritime power” strategy, marine environmental security has become a top priority for China. In deep-sea areas, various environmental parameters such as temperature, salinity, sound velocity, wave dynamics, internal solitary waves, and nearshore rip currents play a crucial role in navigation safety and underwater equipment operations. Nevertheless, traditional single-parameter forecasting models are no longer sufficient to meet the demands of multi-objective environmental protection. As a result, there is a growing need for a high-resolution, multi-objective forecasting system that integrates basic oceanographic element predictions (such as temperature, salinity, …

Current Status And Prospects Of Ocean Data Reanalysis, Chuanyu Liu, Fan Wang

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

Ocean data reanalysis (ODR) is a technique that combines ocean observational data with ocean circulation models to produce gridded data with higher accuracy and greater spatiotemporal coverage. The generated reanalysis data serve as a foundational dataset for conducting oceanographic research and developing artificial intelligence-based large ocean models. This study reviews the technical approaches of ODR, the current status of global and regional ocean data reanalysis systems developed in the world, and puts forward recommendations for the development of China's ocean reanalysis system.

Thoughts On Accelerating The Capture Of Technological High Ground For Precise Marine Environmental Assurance, Yuantao Wu, Mingyue Wan, Deke Chen, Danhong Dong, Yao Yu, Miao Chen

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

The marine environment serves as a critical foundation for the development, utilization, protection, and governance of the ocean. Marine environmental support holds significant strategic importance for the exploitation of marine resources, ecological and environmental conservation, and the safeguarding of maritime rights and interests. It has become a strategic high ground in the new wave of marine technological innovation and development. This paper reviews the current status of global marine environmental support technologies, with a focus on the establishment and capabilities of the comprehensive “observation–forecasting–application–assessment” precision support technology system for the marine environment developed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences. It …

Frontiers In Ocean Non-Equilibrium Dynamics And Challenges In Operational Oceanography Application, Yuhong Zhang, Yan Du, Tianyu Wang, Minyang Wang, Qin Duan, Xinlong Li, Yuhang Zheng, Yifan Xia, Shilin Tang, Yineng Li, Jianping Yin

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

Ocean circulation exhibits complex multiscale dynamics, among which non-equilibrium processes, marked by transient behavior, strong perturbations, and pronounced nonlinearity, are of particular importance for maritime environmental support. However, limited observational capability has long constrained the study of subsurface non-equilibrium dynamics, leaving numerical models insufficiently validated and positioning this issue at the forefront of modern physical oceanography. Artificial intelligence (AI) offers a promising pathway to overcome this bottleneck. Built on this concept, the “iEddy” AI large ocean model can efficiently reconstruct high-resolution, high-accuracy three-dimensional temperature, salinity, and velocity from sea-surface remote sensing data, demonstrating strong capability in capturing non-equilibrium ocean currents …

Satellite-Derived Bathymetry In Island Coastal Zones: Technology, Shilin Tang, Yuye Huang, Yongming Liu, Jianping Yin, Deke Chen, Ronggang Huang, Shuang Li

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

Shallow bathymetry data constitute the core foundational information underpinning the ecological, resource, and strategic values of island and coastal zones. Satellite-derived bathymetry has evolved into a key technical means for large-scale acquisition of shallow bathymetry information. Focusing on satellite-based lidar bathymetry, optical imaging bathymetry, and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) bathymetry, this study systematically summarizes the core principles, applicable scenarios, technical strengths, and inherent limitations of each technology. It is shown that satellite-derived bathymetry has undergone an evolutionary shift from theoretical construction to practical application, and from single-method, single-data-source approaches to multi-technology, multi-source data fusion frameworks. In the future, to meet …

Innovative Applications And Development Paths Of Digital Earth Technology In Marine Environmental Support, Junyi Liu, Xiongfei Liu, Zongji Wang, Zhihong Zeng, Huiping Xie, Siye Liu

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

The convergence of Digital Earth technologies and the field of marine environmental support represent a significant trend in global scientific and technological advancement. In response to the characteristics of marine environmental data such as sparsity, dynamic complexity, and multi-scale interdependence, and by integrating the evolution of international Digital Earth technology with China’s independent innovation practices, this study constructs three core methodological paradigms. The first is the element-integrated ontology, which proposes a hybrid representation paradigm of “spatiotemporal embedded field + ontology” to achieve integrated and dynamically evolving modeling of marine physical environments alongside geological, biological, chemical, and other multidimensional elements. The …

Transparent West-Pacific: Frontier Advances In Earth System Science, Lixin Wu, Jiwei Tian, Weidong Sun, Hailong Liu, Tianyu Chen, Zhimian Cao, Zhao Jing

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

The West-Pacific hosts a well-developed trench-arc-basin system characterized by intense fluid–solid interactions, making it an ideal region for studying multi-sphere interactions within the Earth system. Research on cross-sphere dynamic processes and material-energy cycles in the West-Pacific not only represents a core frontier in Earth System Science, but also crucial to addressing major strategic needs, such as global climate change response, sustainable use of marine resources, and protection of the deep-sea environment. This article highlights key advances achieved under the Major Program on West-Pacific Earth System Multispheric Interactions (WESPMI), in areas including multi-scale oceanic interactions, cross-sphere material exchange, plate subduction and …

When Words Flow Like Water: How The Enbridge Line 3 Pipeline Environmental Impact Statement Failed To Prevent Hydrogeologic Harm In Minnesota, Carly Gutzmann

Journal of Earth and Life Science

For the aquifers of Minnesota, the environmental impact statement (EIS) was a promise of protection that never left the page. An environmental impact statement is meant to be an aid in the decision making process in order to ensure that projects consider potential environmental harms that may occur. However, they are often used instead as another regulatory box to check, rather than as active considerations when planning. As such, a project plan can be flawed from the start—if project developers only consider environmental impacts after they have already put considerable time, effort, and funding into their project as-is, they may …

Assessing Radio Transmitter Weight Effect And Evaluation Of Northern Bobwhite Chick Survival In Coastal North Carolina, Autumn S. Randall, Theron M. Terhune Ii, Matthew T. Springer, Darin J. Mcneil

Forestry and Natural Resources Faculty Publications

Studies on the earliest life stages are essential to our ecological understanding of avian demography; however, monitoring technologies that allow tracking of small birds are still limited in a variety of ways. One critical limitation, until recently, has been the development of methods for attaching transmitters to young birds with precocial development (e.g., Galliformes, Charadriiformes, etc.). The modified suture technique offers a means to attach transmitters to precocial chicks while accommodating rapid growth characterized by birds with precocial young. Although the sutured transmitter method was developed for northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) chicks, there remain key unknowns regarding best …

Aggregation Bias In Multi-Industry Economic Contribution Analysis: The Case Of Kentucky Forest Sector, Domena A. Agyeman, Thomas Ochuodho, Omkar Joshi

Forestry and Natural Resources Faculty Publications

Closely related industries are often aggregated in US forest sector economic contribution analysis, yet the choice of aggregation scheme can influence results. The Impact Analysis for Planning (IMPLAN) system is the most widely applied input–output model for forest economic contribution analysis in the US. In IMPLAN, the level of industry aggregation determines which inter-industry transactions are restricted, thereby influencing the magnitude of estimated indirect and induced effects. Although IMPLAN practitioners can model individual industries to avoid aggregation bias, they must still decide whether to analyze forest industries as a single group, as traditional subsectors, or individually. This decision can alter …

Effects Of Headwater Wetland Restoration On The Demography, Fecundity And Ecology Of The U.S. Federally Threatened White Fringeless Orchid (Platanthera Integrilabia) In The Cumberland Plateau Of Kentucky, Tara R. Littlefield, Catherine Hoy, Christopher Barton

Forestry and Natural Resources Faculty Publications

Wetland habitats represent a critical component of biodiversity hotspots that support numerous rare species, including terrestrial orchids. In North America, over half of all terrestrial orchids are found in wetlands, more than a quarter of which are now threatened with extinction (G1–G3). This concerning trend is exacerbated by a lack of information on effective restoration strategies aimed at orchids and other species that inhabit these areas. The white fringeless orchid, Platanthera integrilabia (Correll) Luer, the subject of this study, is restricted to mostly shaded wetland habitats along the Cumberland Plateau of the Appalachian Mountains and has suffered widespread declines due …

Balancing Wood And Food: Assessing The Drivers And Spatiotemporal Conflicts Of Eucalyptus Plantation Expansion In Guangxi, China, Wen H. Cai, Qiuxia Huang, Jian Yang, Le Yu, Yuanzheng Yang, Jiaxing Zu, Jiali Wang, Zhenxian Li

Forestry and Natural Resources Faculty Publications

Eucalyptus has become one of the most widely cultivated tree genera in subtropical China, generating significant economic returns but raising land-use conflicts with agriculture. Understanding the driving mechanisms behind this expansion is crucial for sustainable land-use management. To inform strategies for balancing wood production and agricultural stability, we investigated the spatiotemporal expansion dynamics and predicted the potential suitable habitat distribution of Eucalyptus plantations using a Boosted Regression Tree (BRT) model. Our analysis revealed three distinct spatiotemporal expansion phases. Crucially, this expansion has progressively shifted from marginal sloped terrain onto flat valley bottoms, intensifying the agriculture-forestry conflict in the region. Climatic …

Anuran Occupancy Of Created Wetlands Within Reforested Legacy Surface Mines In Kentucky And West Virginia, Jillian C. Newman, Steve Price, Jacquelyn C. Guzy, Joshua Castle, John J. Cox, Jeffery L. Larkin, Christopher D. Barton

Forestry and Natural Resources Faculty Publications

Restoration of habitat is an important component of wildlife management. Surface coal mining has altered forest cover in the Central Appalachians, and most reclamation activities on previously mined lands result in non-native grasslands or shrub lands. The Forestry Reclamation Approach (FRA), which emphasizes non-native vegetation removal, soil decompaction, planting of native trees and shrubs, and, in some cases, wetland creation represents an alternative to grassland-based reclamation that may promote forest-associated wildlife on legacy surface mines. We used automated recording units to evaluate the response of anurans to created wetlands and the FRA in Kentucky and West Virginia, USA. We used …

Western Massasauga (Sistrurus Tergeminus): A Species Conservation Assessment For The Nebraska Natural Legacy Project, Colleen Rothe-Groleau, Melissa J. Panella

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission: Publications

The Nebraska Natural Legacy Project recognizes the western massasauga (Sistrurus tergeminus) as a Tier I at-risk species. Provided are some general management recommendations regarding western massasaugas. Conservation practitioners will need to use professional judgment to make specific management decisions based on objectives, location, and a multitude of variables. This resource was designed to share available knowledge of this at-risk species that will aid in the decision-making process or in identifying research needs to benefit the species.

Criteria for selection as Tier I: State listed, G3

Estimated Population in NE: 1,000–2,500

Estimate based on: Field surveys

Trends since 2005 …

What's The Value Of A State? Accounting For The Ecosystem Services And Natural Capital Of Oregon, Kathryn Liebrecht

University Honors Theses

Ecosystem services are vital to human welfare and society, but often are overlooked when it comes to planning and setting policy. By neglecting to incorporate the benefits received from natural resources, policy makers may unknowingly be making decisions that harm the long term sustainability and use of these services. To highlight the importance of Oregon's ecosystems, the present study aims to provide a full accounting of the ecosystem services and natural capital of the state. Using data from the Institute for Natural Resources' updated Oregon statewide habitat map, Oregon's ecosystems were matched to biome categories from the Ecosystem Services Valuation …

A Demand Systems Analysis Of Energy Sources In The United States, Rafael Bakhtavoryan

Faculty Publications

This study estimates a Generalized Exact Affine Stone Index model to quantify demand structure among such energy sources as natural gas, coal, nuclear, wind, solar, and geothermal energy, employing monthly time-series data ranging from January of 2009 through December of 2020. The demand for natural gas, coal, and nuclear energy emerges as inelastic. A significant substitutability relationship is empirically established between the energy sources. All the computed expenditure elasticities are positive, with natural gas being the most sensitive and nuclear energy being the least sensitive to energy source expenditures. Pre-committed consumption is found for geothermal energy. Finally, the welfare implications …

Trade-Off Between Limonene & Geraniol-Based Reprocessable And Non-Reprocessable Epoxy Thermosets: Role Of Aliphatic Diamines In Polymer Networks Design, Priyankkumar Kanubhai Patel

Electronic Theses & Dissertations

The growing demand for sustainable materials, driven by environmental concerns and the rapid depletion of fossil fuels, has garnered significant attention in the fabrication of bio-based epoxy thermosets as renewable alternatives to petroleum-derived thermosetting polymers. The present study focuses on the synthesis and characterization of epoxy prepolymer resins derived from limonene and geraniol via a two-step process, followed by the fabrication of thermally cross-linked flexible epoxy thermoset films using various traditional aliphatic diamine curing agents, namely 1,2-ethylenediamine (EDA), 1,4-butylenediamine (BDA), and 1,6-hexamethylenediamine (HDA). Additionally, the incorporation of cystamine, a disulfide-containing diamine, enabled the formation of a covalent adaptable network through …

The Impact Of Irrigation On Agricultural Land Values In The United States Southeast And An Analysis Of Farmland Prices In South Carolina, Christopher L. Thomas

All Theses

Land is a key component of the agriculture industry in the United States. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, farm real estate (land and buildings) accounted for 82.8% of total US farm sector assets in 2022, consequently making land the largest source of wealth in a farmer’s investment portfolio and the primary source of collateral used for farm operating loans. The Southeastern region of the United States has seen rapid farmland appreciation and intense population growth in recent years. This research investigates the rising farmland prices across the Southeast from both a regional and state-level perspective. Chapter Two …

Sheep Production, Profitability And Greenhouse Gas Emission Of Mixed Farming Systems In Western Australia's Wheatbelt, Tafesse Estifanos, Amir Abadi Abadi Ghadim, Kate Pritchett, Christophe D'Abbadie, Johnny Machon, Paul Mattingley, Bradley Plunkett, Gus Manatsa, Kerrine Blenkinsop, Ross Kingwell, Clinton K. Revell Dr

Animal production and livestock research reports

The south-western agricultural area of Western Australia is a vital contributor to Australia's agricultural output. It generates over $10 billion annually in agricultural production from 2017–18 to 2021–22 and more than $8 billion in export value over the same period. Mixed farming systems characterise the region, producing broadacre crops (primarily wheat, barley, and canola) and livestock. The region's livestock industry is dominated by sheep production for meat and wool, and the state’s share of the national sheep flock in 2020–21 was at 18%.

This report provides a comprehensive review and industry analysis of sheep production in WA, its economic significance, …

Storage Batteries (Renewable Energies/Cars) - Background For Cure "Battery Discharge" Project, Alexa Miner, Clarissa Cortez, James Gonzalez, Ryan Romine

Posters - 2025

In the past, and even today, Texas is known for its oil rigs and non-renewable energy sources, but it has also become a pillar for solar and wind turbine created power. As of late, the usage of these kinds of renewable resources has become essential to keep Texas as efficient as we once were in an ever growing world, where more people need more energy. However, a caveat concerning renewable energy resources is how available they are. At first, this unfamiliar territory led to people doubting its productivity when there was a lack of wind or sunshine. The solution to …

Exploring Single Cell Microbial Protein As A Sustainable Fishmeal Alternative In Yellowtail Kingfish (Seriola Lalandi) Diets: Impacts On Health And Gut Microbiome, Luke Pilmer, Lindsey Woolley, Alan Lymbery, Chinh Dam, Abigail Elizur, Md Javed Foysal, Gavin Partridge

Fisheries Research Articles

Background

With the global expansion of aquaculture and the increasing demand for fish meal, identifying appropriate and sustainable alternative protein sources for aquafeeds has become essential. Single-cell protein (SCP), derived from methanotrophic bacteria, presents a promising alternative by converting methane into protein, potentially addressing both the need for alternative protein sources and reducing industrial greenhouse gas emissions. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of different levels of SCP inclusion (0%, 25%, 50%, and 75% fish meal replacement) on the health, gene expression, and gut microbiome of yellowtail kingfish (YTK, Seriola lalandi) following a 35-day growth trial.

Results

The …

Movements And Habitat Use Of Silver Carp In The Arkansas And White River, A. L. Althoff, J. L. Kinschuh, D. K. Owens, Jonathan J. Spurgeon, J. N. Stevens, S. E. Lochmann

Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit: Staff Publications

No abstract provided.

Modeling Wild Rice Bed Health: A Dual Metric Approach For Bed Strength And Invasive Impact, Seth Sisneros-Martinez

Journal of Earth and Life Science

Wild rice (mannoomin; Zizania palustris) is an aquatic grain that grows in slow-moving rivers and shallow bays throughout northern Minnesota. In Headquarters Bay on Leech Lake, wild rice has served as a cultural staple for Indigenous communities for centuries. However, its population has declined in recent years due to multiple environmental issues. One potential contributor is Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum; EWM), an invasive species that forms dense mats capable of outcompeting native aquatic vegetation, including wild rice. EWM was first recorded on the southern shoreline of Leech Lake in 2005 and has since become widespread. This study …

An Economic And Production Analysis Of Seaweed Farms In California And The Pacific Northwest, Brian Donovan

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Since the early 2010s, the seaweed aquaculture industry has steadily expanded in the United States, with states like Alaska, Maine, Hawaii, and Connecticut leading the way in the development of this emerging sector. However, information gaps remain concerning certain aspects of the domestic seaweed aquaculture industry. The purpose of this study was to examine the status of the seaweed aquaculture industry along the West Coast of the United States; specifically in the states of California, Oregon, and Washington. Seaweed farmers in these states were invited to voluntarily complete surveys asking important production, economic, and commercial questions regarding their operations. Data …

Effects Of Round-Up On The Environment, Sandra J. Marcu

Journal of Earth and Life Science

Many people around the world have used and still currently use Roundup but are unaware of the effects it has on the environment. Roundup is a spray on application weedkiller that is widely used around the world today both residentially and commercially. It enables its user to grow a garden or a field of crops with a no-tilling approach to eliminate weeds. It is a well-known and popular choice for killing weeds that has been around since the mid 1970’s (Oca, 2017). John Franz, a Monsanto scientist discovered that glyphosate (main ingredient in Roundup) was an herbicide or weedkiller, and …

The Effectiveness Of The Minnesota Buffer Law And Its Impacts On People, Ellen P. Isakson

Journal of Earth and Life Science

In January 2015, the then-governor of Minnesota Mark Dayton announced new legislation that would require 50-foot vegetation buffers along all waterways in Minnesota; this legislation would come to be known as the Minnesota buffer law, exact requirements being “perennial vegetative buffers of up to 50 feet along lakes, rivers, and streams and buffers of 16.5 feet along ditches” (Albert, 2017; MN Board of Water and Soil Resources [MN BWSR] 4 ). A buffer in the context of vegetation and natural resource management is a strip of vegetation around a body of water “designed to intercept stormwater runoff and minimize soil …

Guide To Supplementary Feeding And Budgeting, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Animal production and livestock factsheets

Supplementary feeding of sheep, with grain, hay or silage is necessary when pastures or stubbles are deficient in energy and protein.

A good supplementary feeding program will ensure sheep utilise as much dry paddock feed as possible as well as provide sufficient supplementary feed for maintenance or growth.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development recommends supplementary or confined paddock feeding to maintain livestock productivity and avoid animal welfare and soil erosion problems.

Confined Paddock Feeding And Feedlotting Of Sheep, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Animal production and livestock factsheets

Confinement feeding (also referred to as lot feeding or feedlotting) is an intensive feeding system in a confined area where all, or the majority of, feed and water is supplied to the contained animals. The department recommends using confinement feeding as part of a whole farm livestock, pasture and erosion management program.

We recommend having a confinement feeding system as an integral part of a whole farm livestock, pasture and erosion management program. Guides and resources that provide more detailed information are listed at the bottom of this fact sheet.