Research

Overview 

I work on issues like monetizing the value of ecosystem services, identifying trade-offs between conservation and development, quantifying climate change mitigation costs, and promoting sustainability, with a specific emphasis on the spatial heterogeneity of impacts. 

My current projects revolve around the following interlinked topics: 

• Promoting conservation and development in working lands (including supply-chain interventions)

• Protected areas

• Institutions (the establishment of property rights, decentralization and devolution of natural resource management rights, community managed resources). 

Current projects

** Indicates students

“Natural Climate Solutions for Indonesia, China, and Colombia” with Nyonho O**, Chris Zganjar, Peter Ellis, Diego Navarrete, Armando Sarmiento Lopez, Nisa Novita, Ruslandi, Chandra Agung Septiadi Putra, Brent Sohngen, Timm Kroeger

• We utilize available land use data and discrete choice models to generate Marginal Abatement Cost curves (MACC) for reforestation and avoided deforestation in key geographies and analysize the feasibility of carbon mitigation policies.  

 “REmote Sensing for Forest Renewal, Ecosystem Services (REFRESH)” with CK Chum (PI), Sathya Gopalakrishnan, Joyce Chen, Samuel Malloy, Thomas Darrah,Junyi Guo, Yuanyan Jia, Peter Luk, Priya Kurle (The Ohio State University). USAID Cooperative agreement ($1.5 million). 

• We combine program evaluation and non-market valuation methods to monetize forest ecosystem services

“FORAD: Managing forests for development and conservation in the Pan-Tropics” with Subhrendu Pattanayak, Erin Sills, Alex Pfaff, Jimena Rico Straffon, Allen Blackman, Karen Mo, Bronson Griscom, Pushpendra Rana, Brent Sohngen, Lea Fortmann, Corinne Bocci**, Peter Ellis, Peter Umunay, Anand Roopsind, Natalia Zappernick**,  Laura Villalobos, Jim Uhland**, Y.S (Samuel) Cheng**

• We evaluate the impacts of logging rights and FSC certification in the Pan-Tropics. 

“Assessing the role of vertical integration in preventing deforestation and forest degradation in Mexican ejidos” with Bronson Griscom, Peter Ellis, Edward Ellis, Erin Sills, David Bray, Elvira Duran Medina, Steve Polasky, Colette Naples**, Claire Uematsu**, and Dawn Ward 

• We examine the impact of vertical integration on forest protection in Mexican community forests

“Evaluating the impacts of Minnesota’s Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program (MAWQCP)”, with Derric Pennington, Y.S. (Samuel) Cheng**, Amit Pradhananga

• Utilizing survey and land use data, we evaluate the impact of the program in modifying farming practices

"Palmexpand: Social, Economic, and Environmental Impacts of Oil Palm Expansion in Indonesia" with Cécile Bessou, Damien Arvor, Jérémie Gignoux, François Libois, and Akiko Suwa-Eisenmann

 “Assessing heterogeneity in FSC certification performance in Indonesia”with Subhrendu Pattanayak, Bronson Griscom, and Peter Ellis 

“Harnessing the ecosystem services of vacant lots to promote sustainability and resilience in Cleveland, OH" with Mary Gardiner, Frances Sivakoff, Mary Rodriguez, Xenia Marzan**, Spencer See**, and Natalia Zappernick**

• We assess the impact of vacant lots on the provision of ecosystem services in Cleveland, OH. 

For prospective doctoral students

Students, interested in working with me, need to gain admission into the doctoral program at AEDE first. 

Application process and requirements at AEDE are described here: https://aede.osu.edu/graduate/phd-program/application-process