The Greater Santa Fe Fireshed is an area of forested mountains and foothills directly to the east of the City of Santa Fe, New Mexico, spanning 173 square miles and including a portion of the Santa Fe National Forest, as well as tribal land, residential areas, and County recreation areas. The U.S. Forest Service engaged Earth Economics to conduct an analysis of the social, environmental, and economic benefits that the fireshed provides for the surrounding community, and to explore the impact of the proposed fuel reduction treatment on these benefits. This conservative analysis found that the proposed fuel treatments are estimated to generate between $1.44–$1.67 in benefits for every dollar invested in treatment.
Across Oregon, there are thousands of recreation sites and opportunities to hike, camp, bike, picnic, hunt, kite surf, and more; and each year, billions of dollars are spent by folks enjoying Oregon’s outdoors. Recognizing that outdoor recreation is a major contributor to the state’s economy, Travel Oregon, the Oregon Office of Outdoor Recreation (OREC), and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) united to commission a study on the impacts of the outdoor recreation economy. This study highlights the meaningful contributions of economic impacts generated by Oregonians and visitors that recreate in our vast and abundant outdoors.
The built environment can significantly impact ecosystem services, especially where infrastructure is designed without full consideration of stream ecology and aquatic migratory species. By expanding our understanding of the value of improved stream crossings to include not only ecological costs, but also conventional risks (e.g., localized flooding, transportation disruptions), we can build a modernized transportation infrastructure that supports both human needs and larger ecological and hydrological processes.
In 2017, Hurricanes Maria and Irma swept across Puerto Rico, causing a total of $167 billion in damages. This report and accompanying fact sheets (English and Spanish) outline the economic impacts of Puerto Rico’s disaster recovery efforts led by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Puerto Rico Department of Housing (PRDOH) and make a case for investment in community-driven resilience.
In Tacoma, our analysis found that urban heat islands increase maximum temperatures by as much as 6.2 degrees F above the local baseline. Combined with regional climatic effects, neighborhoods in Central and South Tacoma may be as much as 14 degrees F hotter than neighborhoods in North Tacoma. 11,980 people live in neighborhoods where maximum temperature exceed the 90th percentile and where average per capita incomes are less than 200% the federal poverty level.
As the impacts of climate change and heat waves become more frequent, urban heat islands are are a significant cause for concern. This case study of Broward County, Florida found that urban heat islands increase maximum temperatures by as much as 5°F above the local baseline. 90,000 people live in neighborhoods where the urban heat islands increase temperatures by 2°F or more and where average per capita incomes are less than 200% the federal poverty level.
Salmon is at the heart of the culture and wellbeing for many Tribes and First Nations in the Pacific Northwest. With salmon populations in decline across the region, it is important to understand the breadth and depth of socio-cultural values associated with salmon, particularly as those values relate to the well-being of Indigenous Peoples and Nations. This project seeks to characterize socio-cultural values related to salmon and appreciate the rich and multifaceted relationships that Indigenous Peoples hold with these critical species.
In Seattle, our analysis found that urban heat islands increase maximum temperatures by as much as 6° F above the local baseline. Combined with regional climatic effects, neighborhoods in Central and South Seattle may be as much as 14° F hotter than neighborhoods in North Seattle. There is a strong correlation between summer heat and negative health outcomes. Temperatures above 82°F significantly increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases, respiratory illnesses, and heat stroke.
Washington offers hundreds of outdoor recreation activities that are enjoyed by residents and tourists alike. Building off an analysis conducted in 2015, our Economic Analysis of Outdoor Recreation in Washington State provides updated data on the estimated economic contribution of outdoor recreation, as well as non-monetary benefits (ecosystem service values) that stem from public recreation lands.
The Gowanus neighborhood in Brooklyn, NYC, which is centered around the Gowanus Canal (a designated U.S. EPA Superfund site), is slated to be rezoned into a mixed residential, commercial, and manufacturing area - and, consequently, is expected to spur rapid property value growth. It will also undergo remediation - cleanup will focus on the canal itself, as well as three former manufactured gas plant sites adjacent to the canal.
