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Earth Economics Presents Urban Green Infrastructure Lab to Boston Metro Area

 
 

Earth Economics Presented
Urban Green Infrastructure Lab to Boston Metro Area

“Green infrastructure is a cost-efficient mechanism to manage runoff that also serves to cool cities, prevent urban heat islands, mitigate air pollution caused by excessive vehicle emissions, and beautify neighborhoods.”
— Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC)
 

This year, Earth Economics is bringing together leaders from eight communities across the U.S. to discuss green infrastructure, the funding and financing tools that can help speed adoption at scale of nature-based solutions that increase urban resilience. Workshop participants will hear from industry leaders, with, dive into real-world case studies, and take home a wealth of resources and tools designed to help communities explore and implement their own green infrastructure opportunities.

One such workshop was held over a full day in the Boston metro area, with the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) and other community leaders in attendance. Read MAPC’s recent blog post recapping the experience, A Vision for Green Infrastructure in the Region, which highlights the green infrastructure needs, barriers, and opportunities of the Boston metro area. 

 

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Minneapolis Star Tribune cites Earth Economics' Research on the Economics of Displacement in Little Haiti

 
 

Minneapolis Star Tribune cites Earth Economics' Research on the Economics of Displacement in Little Haiti

“As the impacts of sea-level rise intensify and developers look to higher ground to build new projects, Miami’s low-income communities of color are at risk of displacement, particularly to climate-vulnerable neighborhoods.”
— A Snapshot of Potential Environmental and Social Costs of the Proposed Little Haiti Development, Earth Economics
 

The Magic City Innovation District (“Magic City”) is a seventeen-acre development slated to be built in the Little Haiti neighborhood of Miami. While the development may attract additional investment and benefits for new residents and businesses that move to the area, there is growing concern about the potential negative environmental and social impacts of the project, including economic displacement of residents who have historically resided and worked in Little Haiti, the majority of whom are low-income families of color.

The Minneapolis Star Tribune article states, “Earth Economics conducted an analysis of Magic City Innovation District's effect on the neighborhood, confirming that more than 3,000 households could be pushed out, with some experiencing a period of homelessness. The group estimates these families would collectively pay over $68 million in relocation expenses.”

Miami Beach Times cites Earth Economics Report on the Economic Value of Rehydrating Coastal Wetlands in Biscayne Bay

 
 

Miami Beach Times cites Earth Economics
Report on the Economic Value of Rehydrating
Coastal Wetlands in Biscayne Bay

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Earth Economics’ recent research on the economic value of rehydrated wetlands in Miami, Florida was recently cited by the Miami Beach Times. The report, Restoring Biscayne Bay, estimates that healthy rehydrated wetlands are worth more than $3.3 billion in ecosystem goods and services.

The article details how Biscayne Bay, the largest estuary on the coast of southeast Florida, connects the Bay’s overall health with Miami’s coastal resiliency. Miami Waterkeeper commented that, “Building resilience includes, but isn’t limited to, increasing protection from storms, ensuring reliable drinking water, enabling continued recreational and commercial fishing, and buffering sea level rise.”

In 2017 The Florida Department of Environmental Protection declared the Bay as an ‘impaired waterbody’ due to high nitrogen levels. The city of Miami has been identified as releasing particulate debris into the Bay - which is contributing to the devastation of seagrass and mangrove habitat. In April the County Department of Environmental Resource Management implemented a deadline to create a correction plan.

 

Miami Waterkeeper presented their study at the Deering Estate on June 7th, which values the Biscayne Bay at over $3.3 billion, photo courtesy of Miami Waterkeeper.

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Miami Herald and the Daily Business Review cite Earth Economics’ research on the economics of displacement in advance of final vote on Magic City Innovation District

 
 

Miami Herald and the Daily Business Review cite Earth Economics’ research on the economics of displacement in advance of final vote on Magic City Innovation District

Earth Economics’ recent research on the economics of displacement was recently cited in news coverage about community opposition to the Magic City Innovation District development project in Miami, Florida. The Magic City Innovation District (“Magic City”) is a seventeen-acre development slated to be built in the Little Haiti neighborhood of Miami, Florida. In advance of the final city commission vote to approve the project, scheduled for June 27, 2019, the Community Justice Project (CJP) and the Family Action Network Movement (FANM) partnered with Earth Economics to examine the potential environmental and social costs of the proposed development, including the household-level costs of displacement. In addition to raising questions about the true costs and benefits of the proposed Magic City project, the report aims to raise awareness among Miami decision-makers about the importance of approaching urban development through a holistic lens, taking both nature’s benefits and social wellbeing of underserved communities into account.

Wetland Rehydration Project Area Copyright Earth Economics 2019

The articles describe the growing opposition to the proposed billion dollar development, including a rally that was held on June 20 to publicize Earth Economics’ research. Both articles highlight Earth Economics’ estimates of household-level costs of displacement, including an estimated $64 billion of costs over ten years, accrued by 3000+ households at risk of displacement throughout the Little Haiti neighborhood.

“The impacts of displacement are well documented − everything from upfront relocation costs, to increased commuting costs, to the cost of increased flood risk. Using publicly available datasets, the average financial cost of displacement to a Little Haiti household can be estimated,” (Earth Economics, Magic City Innovation District).

In the News

Little Haiti residents rally for a more ‘inclusive’ development ahead of Magic City Vote. | Miami Herald

Miami's Magic City Innovation District Could Displace 3,000+ Little Haiti Households, Study Says | Daily Business Review

Miami Waterkeeper Features Earth Economics’ Research on Coastal Wetlands

 
 

Miami Waterkeeper Features Earth Economics’ Research
on Coastal Wetlands

A recent Miami Waterkeeper forum on the economic valuation of ecosystem restoration in South Florida featured Earth Economics’ research about Biscayne Bay.

The event, held at Deering Estate, in Miami, included a tour of a pilot wetlands restoration site, as well as a panel discussion among scientists and resource managers about the importance of quantifying ecosystem benefits as a resilience measure for Miami-Dade County, whose eastern shoreline is dominated by Biscayne Bay.

Miami Waterkeeper also used the event to present Earth Economics’ recent study “Restoring Biscayne Bay and the Economic Value of Rehydrating Coastal Wetlands,” which was funded by the Miami Foundation. The study explains how Biscayne Bay’s coastal wetlands provide essential ecosystem services. Indeed, rehydrated coastal wetlands would provide $120 million in ecosystem services annually, amounting to $3.3 billion when treated as an asset, the study explained.

Wetland Rehydration Project Area
Copyright Earth Economics 2019

Key Peninsula News Cites Earth Economics Research in Article About Growth in Rural Pierce County

 
 

Key Peninsula News Cites Earth Economics Research in Article About Growth in Rural Pierce County

Earth Economics’ research is cited in a recent article in the Key Peninsula News that explores how much residential growth could come to the rural Key Peninsula west of Tacoma, Wash., in coming decades. The article, “The Cost of Growth on the Key Peninsula,” explains that the state’s Growth Management Act discourages sprawl and directs development to urban growth areas thatare designated for eventual annexation by cities and towns. Local zoning policies that require open space preservation on residential parcels, as well as natural features such as wetlands and steep slopes, also limit how many new homes could be built amid the isolated peninsula, which has just a few unincorporated communities, called census-designated places. 

Citing Earth Economics’ recent report, “The Costs of Sprawl: The Potential Impacts of Development in Pierce County, Washington,” the article explains that extending roads, sewer lines and other services to rural areas is three times more costly than providing such services in urban growth areas. The article also notes the report’s conclusion that converting rural green spaces to housing would result in the loss of ecosystem services that provide quantifiable value to rural communities. Taken together, the report’s findings support preserving the rural nature of the Key Peninsula, Pierce County Councilman Derek Young (D-Gig Harbor) contended in the article.

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For more information, please contact Project Manager Matt Van Deren.

Seattle Times cites Earth Economics research in article about endangered orcas.

 
 

SEATTLE TIMES CITES EARTH ECONOMICS
RESEARCH IN ARTICLE ABOUT ENDANGERED ORCAS

Earth Economics’ research is cited in a recent article in The Seattle Times about how noise from large container ships and smaller vessels affects Southern Resident Killer Whales’ ability to hunt salmon in Puget Sound. The article, “The Roar Below,” uses infographics, underwater sound recordings, and other tools to convey how underwater noise masks the sounds (echolocation clicks) that the orcas use to hunt. The article explains that Puget Sound’s robust economy would be affected by restrictions on boat traffic that state and federal policymakers are considering as a way toprotect the endangered orcas’ foraging efficiency. Citing Earth Economics’ recent report, The Whales in Our Waters, the article explains that whale watching in San Juan County (from boat-based tours and terrestrial viewing points) supports more than $216 million worth of economic activity in the Puget Sound region annually.

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Earth Economics presents oil spill consequences assessment to Puget Sound island community

 
 

Earth Economics presents oil spill Risk consequences
assessment to San Juan islands community

READ THE REPORT

Project Director Rebecca Page presented Earth Economics’ recent report, San Juan County Oil Spill Risk Consequences Assessment, to community members of San Juan County on May 8. The 2019 report, commissioned by San Juan County Environmental Resources Division evaluates the extent of damages and range of costs from two hypothetical oil spills — an oil tanker spill and cargo vessel fuel oil spill — occurring in Haro Strait/Boundary Pass, which separates San Juan County and Vancouver Island 

The assessment contributes to a cost-benefit business case for investment in additional spill prevention measures, including an emergency response towing vessel in or near county waters that could aid vessels in distress.

Study Area: San Juan County, Washington
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San Juan County hosted a community presentation about the Earth Economics report, on Wednesday, May 8. (Shown L-R: Marta Green, Puget Sound Recovery Coordinator of the Action Agenda Oversight Group, San Juan County Environmental Resources Division and Rebecca Page, Project Director at Earth Economics)

For more information, please contact Project Manager Rebecca Page.