Impact Fees to Protect Communities from Oil and Gas Development

Wise use, or efficient use, of resources includes accounting for negative externalities like fiscal costs and pollution.  With rapid expansion of oil and gas drilling, communities need tools to protect human health and quality of life.  Our companion reports on impact fees and calculating the costs of air pollution from oil and gas development provide blueprints for wise use. 

Roadless Areas Provide Valuable Economic Benefits

Protecting the remaining pieces of intact nature, before they are lost to development, is paramount. Roadless areas are critical for ecosystem service production, providing substantial economic benefits and spurring numerous jobs and income in recreation industries.  The economic value of roadless areas is presented here.  

Forest Restoration Creates Jobs, Reduces Wildfire Damages

Restoration of degraded forests provides communities the means to limit damages from wildfires while providing “in-the-woods” jobs.  We conducted a regional economic contribution analysis of the Four Forest Restoration Initiative (4FRI) in Arizona, the largest collaborative restoration project in US Forest Service history, and explored innovative restoration funding mechanisms.