ASU Courses
- SOS 512: Sustainable resource allocation
- SOS 535/BIO 598: Biodiversity and ecosystem services
- SOS 594/BIO 598: Valuation of Ecosystem Services
SOS 594/BIO 598: Valuation of Ecosystem Services
Initiator: Elisabeth Larson
Faculty Contact: Charles Perrings
Calendar: Spring 2008
Participants:
Confirmed Core Project Members
- Elisabeth Larson, SOLS, IGERT
- Charles Perrings, SOLS Faculty
- Nancy Grimm, SOLS Faculty
- Marty Anderies, SHESC Faculty
- Colleen Strawhacker, SHESC, IGERT
- Thad Miller, SOS, IGERT
- Shade Shutters, SOLS, IGERT
Confirmed Advisors:
- Ann Kinzig, SOLS Faculty
- V. Kerry Smith, Economics Professor
- Rimjhim Aggarwal, SOS Faculty
- Joshua Abbott, SOS Faculty
Objectives: The goals of this workshop are not 100% defined or limited, but will probably build off of an hedonic model Larson is working on this semester under Dr. Perrings, which looks at differences in housing prices to estimate the value of various environmental amenities (or disamenities). Work in the spring could include:
- a meta-analysis of hedonic models to see how PHX compares to other cities.
- the applicability of benefit transfer techniques in this case.
- other methods of ecosystem service valuation, such as contingent or conjoint valuation(surveys)
At the beginning of the semester, workshop participants will meet to discuss group interests, workshop goals, and anticipated products. For the first few weeks, group members will read and discuss relevant literature and guest speakers (from the Confirmed Advisors list or otherwise) will present on related topics. After the group has defined its objectives, we will probably work more independently and meet less often, but will use electronic resources to collaborate and monitor progress.
Disciplinarity: This project will be interdisciplinary work in the fields of ecology, economics, sociology, geography, anthropology.
Product: Products from this workshop will include at least 1 article in a peer-reviewed journal, such as Ecological Economics. Credit for the product will be shared via co-authorship. Any datasets collected by the group will be made available to the IGERT office.
Leverage: This project will build on (a) recent ecosystem services work by CAP LTER, (b) PASS data which indicates disparities in ecosystems by income group, and (c) studies of the value of ecosystem services elsewhere. It could inspire future research on many topics, such as refinement of valuation methods, better assessment of Phoenix area ecosystem services, or deeper inquiry into Phoenix residents’ environmental attitudes and perspectives.