Environment
Linking Land and Water Management to Culturally and Ecologically Important Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems
Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems (GDEs) are ecosystems which rely on groundwater. In Kona, Hawaiʻi coastal GDEs include: fish ponds (loko iʻa), anchialine pools, and nearshore ecosystems. Communities and agencies are working to restore and protect these ecosystems for their linked cultural and ecological values, and seek information on the interacting impacts of wastewater management, urban development, […]
Read MoreNew UHERO publication on agroforestry restoration in Hawaiʻi
Congratulations to former UHERO graduate student Angel Melone and team on publication of her article: “Assessing Baseline Carbon Stocks for Forest Transitions: A Case Study of Agroforestry Restoration from Hawaiʻi.” This publication presents a comprehensive study of carbon stocks as part of a broader collaborative research effort on agroforestry restoration that includes UHERO, UH Botany, […]
Read MorePublication: How Will Climate Change Affect Water Demand? Evidence from Hawai‘i Microclimates
The effect that climate change will have on water resource sustainability is gaining international interest, particularly in regions where stocks are strained due to changing climate and increasing populations. Past studies focus mainly on how water availability will be affected by climate change, with little attention paid to how consumer behavior is likely to react. […]
Read MoreImpact of two of the world’s largest protected areas on longline fishery catch rates
Two of the largest protected areas on earth are U.S. National Monuments in the Pacific Ocean. Numerous claims have been made about the impacts of these protected areas on the fishing industry, but there has been no ex post empirical evaluation of their effects. We use administrative data documenting individual fishing events to evaluate the economic impact of the expansion of […]
Read MoreCycling mode choice amongst US commuters: The role of climate and topography
Cycling to work is uncommon in most areas of the US, but relatively common in a particular set of metros and neighbourhoods. Explanations for this spatial heterogeneity often focus on differences in local geography, with some areas being allegedly more suitable for cycling. Tyndall estimates the role of topography and climate in determining the share of a metro’s workers who […]
Read MoreCommunication, Expectations, and Trust: An Experiment with Three Media
We studied how communication media affect trust game play. Three popular media were considered: traditional face-to-face, Facebook groups, and anonymous online chat. We considered post-communication changes in players’ expectations and preferences, and further analyzed the contents of group communications to understand the channels through which communication appears to improve trust and trustworthiness. For senders, the social, […]
Read MoreGood environmental policy requires understanding people
A forest, coral reef, rangeland or any other ecosystem does not necessarily provide the same benefits to everyone. A healthy forest can link to society well-being in multiple ways, including through deep ancestral and spiritual connections to place, increasing groundwater recharge for drinking or providing lei materials and medicinal products. A recent study demonstrates that […]
Read MoreCharging Higher User Fees to Tourists at Hawaii’s State Parks
By James Mak “Ua mau ke ea o ka aina i ka pono” [1] In May 2000 the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of State Parks began to charge $1 entrance fee per adult—tourist and local—who walked into the park to hike the iconic Diamond Head trail. A $5 entrance fee per […]
Read MorePublication: Increasing decision relevance of ecosystem service science
Congratulations to UHERO’s Leah Bremer on her publication in Nature Sustainability. To calculate the true value of a forest, we need to know how people benefit from it, according to new research published in Nature Sustainability. A healthy forest holds a treasure trove of benefits for people — it can filter water for downstream neighborhoods, […]
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