Multi-attribute Choice Modeling of Australia's Rivers and Wetlands

Multi-attribute Choice Modeling of Australia's Rivers and Wetlands
Author: Roy Brouwer
Publisher:
Total Pages: 44
Release: 2009
Genre: Water conservation
ISBN:

A meta-analysis is presented of the empirical findings of 10 years of choice experiment applications to water and wetland management issues in Australia. A random effects Tobit model is estimated to investigate the suitability of using existing willingness to pay (WTP) values derived from estimated choice models for the purpose of benefits transfer. The random effects model outperforms the fixed effects model in terms of predictive power. An analysis of variance reveals that the survey method, sample size, and statistical model are important determinants of estimation precision and error. The use of different attributes, measurement units and levels in choice experiments makes it hard to compare WTP values for environmental attributes from different studies. The benefits associated with current and possible future use of the water resources are valued significantly higher than the non use benefits. Except for the systematically lower values for the Fitzroy, WTP values are more or less transferable across catchments. Other important control variables when transferring the results from choice models across water and wetland policy contexts include income levels of the population of beneficiaries and methodological study characteristics such as the number of choice tasks in the choice experiment.--Author's abstract.

Using Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis in Natural Resource Management

Using Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis in Natural Resource Management
Author: Tony Prato
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 197
Release: 2017-03-02
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1351876287

Providing useful insights on the use of Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) in natural resource management, this book examines a number of empirical applications for several countries and a variety of natural resources. It is shown that using MCDA in the management of water, forestry, wetland and other natural resources can substantially improve the design and implementation of natural resource and environmental policies. Stakeholder involvement is also an important determinant of successful resource management and MCDA provides a useful and effective framework for getting stakeholders involved in resource management decisions. Using Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis in Natural Resource Management gives in-depth analysis of the potential problems in applying these techniques, including difficulties eliciting required information, lack of suitable measures for environmental variables and the need to develop innovative methods to simplify the use of MCDA.

Choice Modelling and the Transfer of Environmental Values

Choice Modelling and the Transfer of Environmental Values
Author: John Rolfe
Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing
Total Pages: 280
Release: 2006
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN:

Benefit transfer is the practice of estimating economic values at a target site by utilizing the results of existing studies for different sites. This text assesses the validity of benefit transfer using choice modeling in contrast to the traditional focus of transferring results from contingent valuation and travel cost models.

The Choice Modelling Approach to Environmental Valuation

The Choice Modelling Approach to Environmental Valuation
Author: Jeff Bennett
Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing
Total Pages: 288
Release: 2001-01-01
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 9781781956601

'. . . a very useful single source for those interested in environmental evaluation using choice models.' - David A. Hensher, Australian Journal of Environmental Management '. . . this book can serve as a firm basis to start understanding what CM is about. . .' - Jesús Barreiro Hurlé, European Review of Agricultural Economics Choice Modelling is a technique that has recently emerged as a means of estimating the demand for environmental goods and the benefits and costs associated with them. The aims of the book are fourfold: * to introduce the technique in the environmental context * to demonstrate its use in a range of case studies * to provide insights into some methodological issues * to explore the prospects for the technique.

Theory and Practice in Policy Analysis

Theory and Practice in Policy Analysis
Author: M. Granger Morgan
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 608
Release: 2017-10-12
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 1316886999

Many books instruct readers on how to use the tools of policy analysis. This book is different. Its primary focus is on helping readers to look critically at the strengths, limitations, and the underlying assumptions analysts make when they use standard tools or problem framings. Using examples, many of which involve issues in science and technology, the book exposes readers to some of the critical issues of taste, professional responsibility, ethics, and values that are associated with policy analysis and research. Topics covered include policy problems formulated in terms of utility maximization such as benefit-cost, decision, and multi-attribute analysis, issues in the valuation of intangibles, uncertainty in policy analysis, selected topics in risk analysis and communication, limitations and alternatives to the paradigm of utility maximization, issues in behavioral decision theory, issues related to organizations and multiple agents, and selected topics in policy advice and policy analysis for government.

Mid-Atlantic Freshwater Wetlands: Advances in Wetlands Science, Management, Policy, and Practice

Mid-Atlantic Freshwater Wetlands: Advances in Wetlands Science, Management, Policy, and Practice
Author: Robert P. Brooks
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 498
Release: 2013-01-25
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1461455960

The lands and waters of the Mid-Atlantic Region (MAR) have changed significantly since before the 16th century when the Susquehannock lived in the area. Much has changed since Captain John Smith penetrated the estuaries and rivers during the early 17th century; since the surveying of the Mason-Dixon Line to settle border disputes among Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Delaware during the middle of the 18th century; and since J. Thomas Scharf described the physiographic setting of Baltimore County in the late 19th century. As early as 1881, Scharf provides us with an assessment of the condition of the aquatic ecosystems of the region, albeit in narrative form, and already changes are taking place – the conversion of forests to fields, the founding of towns and cities, and the depletion of natural resources. We have always conducted our work with the premise that “man” is part of, and not apart from, this ecosystem and landscape. This premise, and the historical changes in our landscape, provide the foundation for our overarching research question: how do human activities impact the functioning of aquatic ecosystems and the ecosystem services that they provide, and how can we optimize this relationship?

Stream Hydrology

Stream Hydrology
Author: Nancy D. Gordon
Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
Total Pages: 452
Release: 2004-06-18
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 9780470843574

Since the publication of the first edition (1994) there have been rapid developments in the application of hydrology, geomorphology and ecology to stream management. In particular, growth has occurred in the areas of stream rehabilitation and the evaluation of environmental flow needs. The concept of stream health has been adopted as a way of assessing stream resources and setting management goals. Stream Hydrology: An Introduction for Ecologists Second Edition documents recent research and practice in these areas. Chapters provide information on sampling, field techniques, stream analysis, the hydrodynamics of moving water, channel form, sediment transport and commonly used statistical methods such as flow duration and flood frequency analysis. Methods are presented from engineering hydrology, fluvial geomorphology and hydraulics with examples of their biological implications. This book demonstrates how these fields are linked and utilised in modern, scientific river management. * Emphasis on applications, from collecting and analysing field measurements to using data and tools in stream management. * Updated to include new sections on environmental flows, rehabilitation, measuring stream health and stream classification. * Critical reviews of the successes and failures of implementation. * Revised and updated windows-based AQUAPAK software. This book is essential reading for 2nd/3rd year undergraduates and postgraduates of hydrology, stream ecology and fisheries science in Departments of Physical Geography, Biology, Environmental Science, Landscape Ecology, Environmental Engineering and Limnology. It would be valuable reading for professionals working in stream ecology, fisheries science and habitat management, environmental consultants and engineers.

Water Ecosystem Services

Water Ecosystem Services
Author: Julia Martin-Ortega
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 187
Release: 2015-03-26
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1107100372

This book uses ecosystem services-based approaches to address major global and regional water challenges, for researchers, students, and policy makers.