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Environmental and Natural Resource Economics

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By Fort Collins Science Center October 25, 2019

Federal land managers are accountable to the public for how they use public resources and for the outcomes of management decisions. Through a variety of economic analyses and custom modeling, SEA economists evaluate how investments and management decisions affect individuals, local communities, and society as a whole.

 

Media
Mountain Hike
Sources/Usage: Some content may have restrictions. View Media Details
Scientists hiking in Glacier National Park. Photo credit: Greg Pederson, USGS. Public domain.

Specifically, SEA economists conduct both economic valuation and economic impact assessment.

  • Economic valuation typically focuses on the value or benefits experienced by individuals.
  • In contrast, economic impact assessment typically focuses on the benefits realized by businesses and communities and is often measured as jobs and business activity.

 

SEA economists also develop and estimate models of economic decision-making, contribute to related tools such as web applications, and communicate with the public and stakeholders about economic concepts, theory, and results.

 

 

Below are projects associated with this topic.

link
Backpackers Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail

Economics of Outdoor Recreation

Planning and managing outdoor recreation on public land and water entails a series of choices, many of which are economic in nature. Economics is useful for informing a wide range of decision-making processes in the context of outdoor recreation management, including why people choose to engage in recreation and where, how people substitute between different types of recreation activities and...
By
Fort Collins Science Center
link

Economics of Outdoor Recreation

Planning and managing outdoor recreation on public land and water entails a series of choices, many of which are economic in nature. Economics is useful for informing a wide range of decision-making processes in the context of outdoor recreation management, including why people choose to engage in recreation and where, how people substitute between different types of recreation activities and...
Learn More
link
Wildfire mitigation before image

Economics of Wildland Fire

In recent decades, wildfires have increased in size and intensity, and the fire season has lengthened. This and other factors have increased wildfire suppression costs and risks to human health and safety. Economists in the Social and Economic Analysis Branch (SEA) at FORT investigate numerous aspects of wildland fire, its impacts, and how to mitigate the risk wildfire poses to people, resources...
By
Land Management Research Program, Fort Collins Science Center, Wildland Fire Science
link

Economics of Wildland Fire

In recent decades, wildfires have increased in size and intensity, and the fire season has lengthened. This and other factors have increased wildfire suppression costs and risks to human health and safety. Economists in the Social and Economic Analysis Branch (SEA) at FORT investigate numerous aspects of wildland fire, its impacts, and how to mitigate the risk wildfire poses to people, resources...
Learn More
link
Elk on a feedground in Wyoming.

Wildlife Economics

Wildlife economics can help us better understand, and sometimes even quantify, the various relationships between humans and wildlife species. On one hand, humans benefit significantly from wildlife, for example through activities like hunting, fishing, and wildlife viewing, or through the conservation of threatened and endangered species. On the other hand, wildlife can also impose substantial...
By
Fort Collins Science Center
link

Wildlife Economics

Wildlife economics can help us better understand, and sometimes even quantify, the various relationships between humans and wildlife species. On one hand, humans benefit significantly from wildlife, for example through activities like hunting, fishing, and wildlife viewing, or through the conservation of threatened and endangered species. On the other hand, wildlife can also impose substantial...
Learn More
link
RAMPS scientist meeting with two land managers in arid shrubland

Tools for Public Land Managers

Fort Collins Science Center Economists support numerous web applications that convey information and data to specific audiences. An important aspect of many of these tools is to connect practitioners and other stakeholders to resources.
By
Fort Collins Science Center
link

Tools for Public Land Managers

Fort Collins Science Center Economists support numerous web applications that convey information and data to specific audiences. An important aspect of many of these tools is to connect practitioners and other stakeholders to resources.
Learn More
link
Buffelgrass

Economics of Invasive Species

In managing invasive species, land managers and policy makers need information to help allocate scarce resources as efficiently and effectively as possible.
By
Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Fort Collins Science Center
link

Economics of Invasive Species

In managing invasive species, land managers and policy makers need information to help allocate scarce resources as efficiently and effectively as possible.
Learn More
link
Parabolic dunes in Wray dune field, eastern Colorado

Water Economics

Water is associated with numerous important benefits and uses, including clean water for drinking, support for outdoor recreation, provision for other ecosystem processes, and direct cultural values.
By
Fort Collins Science Center
link

Water Economics

Water is associated with numerous important benefits and uses, including clean water for drinking, support for outdoor recreation, provision for other ecosystem processes, and direct cultural values.
Learn More

Below are partners associated with this project.

Bureau of Land Management (BLM)

National Park Service (NPS)

State Fish and Wildlife Agencies

U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI)

Federal land managers are accountable to the public for how they use public resources and for the outcomes of management decisions. Through a variety of economic analyses and custom modeling, SEA economists evaluate how investments and management decisions affect individuals, local communities, and society as a whole.

 

Media
Mountain Hike
Sources/Usage: Some content may have restrictions. View Media Details
Scientists hiking in Glacier National Park. Photo credit: Greg Pederson, USGS. Public domain.

Specifically, SEA economists conduct both economic valuation and economic impact assessment.

  • Economic valuation typically focuses on the value or benefits experienced by individuals.
  • In contrast, economic impact assessment typically focuses on the benefits realized by businesses and communities and is often measured as jobs and business activity.

 

SEA economists also develop and estimate models of economic decision-making, contribute to related tools such as web applications, and communicate with the public and stakeholders about economic concepts, theory, and results.

 

 

Below are projects associated with this topic.

link
Backpackers Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail

Economics of Outdoor Recreation

Planning and managing outdoor recreation on public land and water entails a series of choices, many of which are economic in nature. Economics is useful for informing a wide range of decision-making processes in the context of outdoor recreation management, including why people choose to engage in recreation and where, how people substitute between different types of recreation activities and...
By
Fort Collins Science Center
link

Economics of Outdoor Recreation

Planning and managing outdoor recreation on public land and water entails a series of choices, many of which are economic in nature. Economics is useful for informing a wide range of decision-making processes in the context of outdoor recreation management, including why people choose to engage in recreation and where, how people substitute between different types of recreation activities and...
Learn More
link
Wildfire mitigation before image

Economics of Wildland Fire

In recent decades, wildfires have increased in size and intensity, and the fire season has lengthened. This and other factors have increased wildfire suppression costs and risks to human health and safety. Economists in the Social and Economic Analysis Branch (SEA) at FORT investigate numerous aspects of wildland fire, its impacts, and how to mitigate the risk wildfire poses to people, resources...
By
Land Management Research Program, Fort Collins Science Center, Wildland Fire Science
link

Economics of Wildland Fire

In recent decades, wildfires have increased in size and intensity, and the fire season has lengthened. This and other factors have increased wildfire suppression costs and risks to human health and safety. Economists in the Social and Economic Analysis Branch (SEA) at FORT investigate numerous aspects of wildland fire, its impacts, and how to mitigate the risk wildfire poses to people, resources...
Learn More
link
Elk on a feedground in Wyoming.

Wildlife Economics

Wildlife economics can help us better understand, and sometimes even quantify, the various relationships between humans and wildlife species. On one hand, humans benefit significantly from wildlife, for example through activities like hunting, fishing, and wildlife viewing, or through the conservation of threatened and endangered species. On the other hand, wildlife can also impose substantial...
By
Fort Collins Science Center
link

Wildlife Economics

Wildlife economics can help us better understand, and sometimes even quantify, the various relationships between humans and wildlife species. On one hand, humans benefit significantly from wildlife, for example through activities like hunting, fishing, and wildlife viewing, or through the conservation of threatened and endangered species. On the other hand, wildlife can also impose substantial...
Learn More
link
RAMPS scientist meeting with two land managers in arid shrubland

Tools for Public Land Managers

Fort Collins Science Center Economists support numerous web applications that convey information and data to specific audiences. An important aspect of many of these tools is to connect practitioners and other stakeholders to resources.
By
Fort Collins Science Center
link

Tools for Public Land Managers

Fort Collins Science Center Economists support numerous web applications that convey information and data to specific audiences. An important aspect of many of these tools is to connect practitioners and other stakeholders to resources.
Learn More
link
Buffelgrass

Economics of Invasive Species

In managing invasive species, land managers and policy makers need information to help allocate scarce resources as efficiently and effectively as possible.
By
Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Fort Collins Science Center
link

Economics of Invasive Species

In managing invasive species, land managers and policy makers need information to help allocate scarce resources as efficiently and effectively as possible.
Learn More
link
Parabolic dunes in Wray dune field, eastern Colorado

Water Economics

Water is associated with numerous important benefits and uses, including clean water for drinking, support for outdoor recreation, provision for other ecosystem processes, and direct cultural values.
By
Fort Collins Science Center
link

Water Economics

Water is associated with numerous important benefits and uses, including clean water for drinking, support for outdoor recreation, provision for other ecosystem processes, and direct cultural values.
Learn More

Below are partners associated with this project.

Bureau of Land Management (BLM)

National Park Service (NPS)

State Fish and Wildlife Agencies

U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI)

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