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Economics and Ecosystem Services

Federal policymakers and land managers are accountable to the public for how they invest public funds and for the outcomes of the policy and management decisions they make. 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. Specifically, SEA economists (1) conduct economic effects analyses to quantify how spending cycles through local economies, generating business sales and supporting jobs and income; (2) conduct research to assess nonmarket values associated with public policy and land management practices; and (3) assess the economic values associated with ecosystem services, defined as socially valued goods and services resulting from ecosystem structures and functions, and other natural resource management issues.

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Sagebrush after juniper removal in Utah

Economic assessment of addressing annual invasive grasses across the sagebrush biome

This interdisciplinary project combines expert judgment on treatment costs with spatially explicit ecological modeling to estimate the financial resources needed to address the threat of invasive annual grass across the entire sagebrush biome. Results of the assessment will provide economic insights that can inform cost-effective resource allocation to efficiently achieve sagebrush conservation...
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Land Management Research Program, Fort Collins Science Center, Wildland Fire Science
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Economic assessment of addressing annual invasive grasses across the sagebrush biome

This interdisciplinary project combines expert judgment on treatment costs with spatially explicit ecological modeling to estimate the financial resources needed to address the threat of invasive annual grass across the entire sagebrush biome. Results of the assessment will provide economic insights that can inform cost-effective resource allocation to efficiently achieve sagebrush conservation...
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A sunset in western Loveland, Colorado.

Economics and Ecosystem Services

Federal policymakers and land managers are accountable to the public for how they use public resources and for the outcomes of policy and 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.
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Land Management Research Program, Fort Collins Science Center
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Economics and Ecosystem Services

Federal policymakers and land managers are accountable to the public for how they use public resources and for the outcomes of policy and 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.
Learn More
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Geologists discuss big picture geology of Lake Clark National Park

Jobs and Business Activity

Department of the Interior programs and activities generate and support jobs and business activity in local economies.
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Fort Collins Science Center
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Jobs and Business Activity

Department of the Interior programs and activities generate and support jobs and business activity in local economies.
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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.
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Fort Collins Science Center
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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
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Scientists searching for clams in the mudflats of Katmai, AK

Value of Science

The science conducted across the USGS affects the well-being of hundreds of millions of Americans. However, it is challenging to quantify the value of this science, and better understanding and communication of this value is often needed.
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Fort Collins Science Center
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Value of Science

The science conducted across the USGS affects the well-being of hundreds of millions of Americans. However, it is challenging to quantify the value of this science, and better understanding and communication of this value is often needed.
Learn More
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Elk on a feedground in Wyoming.

Wildlife Economics

From the benefits of tourism and hunting, to the protection of rare and endangered species, economics can play an important role in understanding humans’ relationship with wildlife.
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Fort Collins Science Center
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Wildlife Economics

From the benefits of tourism and hunting, to the protection of rare and endangered species, economics can play an important role in understanding humans’ relationship with wildlife.
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A wheat field (right panel) adjacent to a grassland (left panel) that was restored

Economics of Ecological Restoration

Beyond the impacts to jobs and business activities, economics can play an important role in understanding the return on project investments by studying the benefits of project outcomes to society.
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Land Management Research Program, Fort Collins Science Center
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Economics of Ecological Restoration

Beyond the impacts to jobs and business activities, economics can play an important role in understanding the return on project investments by studying the benefits of project outcomes to society.
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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.
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Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Fort Collins Science Center
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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.
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This photograph shows a backpacker on the Appalachian Trail in the White Mountains of New Hampshire

Economics of Outdoor Recreation

Planning and managing recreation areas is a series of choices, and not a day goes by that that manager doesn’t face a question, which at its roots, is often economic.
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Fort Collins Science Center
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Economics of Outdoor Recreation

Planning and managing recreation areas is a series of choices, and not a day goes by that that manager doesn’t face a question, which at its roots, is often economic.
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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. SEA economists investigate numerous aspects of wildland fire, its impacts, and how to mitigate the risk wildfire poses to people, resources, and property.
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Land Management Research Program, Fort Collins Science Center, Wildland Fire Science
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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. SEA economists investigate numerous aspects of wildland fire, its impacts, and how to mitigate the risk wildfire poses to people, resources, and property.
Learn More
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Parabolic dunes in Wray dune field, eastern Colorado

Water Economics

Water is associated with numerous ecosystem services, including clean water for drinking, support for outdoor recreation, provision for other ecosystem processes, and direct cultural values.
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Fort Collins Science Center
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Water Economics

Water is associated with numerous ecosystem services, including clean water for drinking, support for outdoor recreation, provision for other ecosystem processes, and direct cultural values.
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Wildfire mitigation after image

The Wildfire Research (WiRē) Team

Wildfires cost billions of dollars to suppress annually, yet they still devastate lives, communities, and ecosystems. While wildfire is a natural phenomenon, learning to live with wildfire is a social issue – so we need a social solution.
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Fort Collins Science Center
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The Wildfire Research (WiRē) Team

Wildfires cost billions of dollars to suppress annually, yet they still devastate lives, communities, and ecosystems. While wildfire is a natural phenomenon, learning to live with wildfire is a social issue – so we need a social solution.
Learn More