Environmental Decision-Making in Context: A Toolbox

by McGuire; Chad J.

• ISBN13: 9781439885758
• ISBN10: 1439885753
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2012-04-25
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

There is a constant drive for greater specialization when it comes to environmental problems. This book provides stakeholders from various backgrounds with the ability to place environmental problems and solutions within a common framework from which decisions can be made. It focuses on considerations from three primary areas of influence on environmental decision making: science, economics, and values. It presents the questions, issues, and problems that need to be addressed by today's environmental specialists. The text also includes case studies to illustrate the analytical reasoning required to employ contextually sound environmental decision-making.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	p. ix
About the Author	p. xi
Introduction	p. 1
Science of Environmental Decision-Making	p. 7
Introduction	p. 7
Natural Systems	p. 9
Ecosystem Principles	p. 17
Components: Biotic and Abiotic	p. 18
Services Provided: Provisioning, Regulating, Cultural	p. 20
Biodiversity	p. 23
Definitions	p. 24
Interactions	p. 25
Importance	p. 27
Ecosystem-Based Management	p. 29
Definition and Purpose	p. 30
Role in Environmental Management	p. 31
Examples in Environmental Policy Management Techniques	p. 34
Systems Thinking	p. 39
Box Modeling: Wrapping Our Heads around the Problem	p. 40
Underlying Scientific Principles	p. 43
E = mc2, or the Relationship between Energy and Matter (Mass-Energy Equivalence)	p. 43
Equilibrium Theory, or dC/dT = 0	p. 45
Parts of the Box in Context: Inflows, Outflows, and Feedback Mechanisms	p. 49
Conclusion	p. 59
References	p. 60
Economics of Environmental Decision-Making	p. 63
Introduction	p. 63
Categories of Economics Relevant to Environmental Decision-Making	p. 65
Natural Resource Economics	p. 68
Ecological Economics	p. 72
The Role of Discounting, Substitution, and Trade-Offs	p. 76
Defining Value: Linking Environment and Human Interactions	p. 81
Measurements of Well-Being and Progress	p. 81
Gross Domestic Product	p. 82
Alternatives	p. 84
Total Valuation Technique (Tv = Dv + Iv + Nuv)	p. 91
Direct Values (Dvs)	p. 92
Indirect Values (Ivs)	p. 95
Nonuse Values (Nuvs)	p. 98
Benefit-Cost Analysis	p. 101
Conclusion	p. 106
References	p. 108
Values of Environmental Decision-Making	p. 113
Introduction	p. 113
Objective Values	p. 115
Risk Assessment and the Role of Science	p. 115
Quantification Methods	p. 120
Subjective Values	p. 129
Emotion and Public Outrage	p. 131
NIMBY and Other Perceived Values	p. 138
Scaling Value Decisions	p. 146
Values and Individual Decision-Making	p. 148
Self-Interest	p. 149
Learning Dynamics	p. 157
Values and Multiparty Decision-Making	p. 166
Consensus Building and Majority Voting	p. 167
Other Collective Value System Considerations	p. 170
Conclusion	p. 174
References	p. 176
Case Problems	p. 179
Introduction to Case Problems	p. 179
Case Problem 1. Watershed Management: Linking Terrestrial and Aquatic Environmental Problems	p. 179
Relevant Information	p. 180
Hints for Analysis	p. 181
Case Problem 2. Fisheries Management: Managing Public Resources through a Mix of Private Incentives	p. 181
Current Government Fishery Policy	p. 182
Alternative Policy 1	p. 182
Alternative Policy 2	p. 183
Alternative Policy 3	p. 184
Hints for Analysis	p. 184
Case Problem 3. Sustainability: Setting Priorities between Today and Tomorrow, a Total Valuation Application	p. 185
Current Policy	p. 185
Alternative 1	p. 186
Alternative 2	p. 186
Alternative 3	p. 187
Hints for Analysis	p. 187
Case Problem 4. Climate Change: Making Environmental Decisions in the Face of Uncertainty	p. 187
Hints for Analysis	p. 189
Index	p. 191
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