This paper develops a stochastic dynamic programming model to investigate optimal cover crop adoption policies, accounting for cumulative effects on soil fertility, uncertain future fertilizer and output prices, irreversibility of sunk machinery costs and flexibility in the timing of adoption over time. Based on data from a 35-year cotton field experiment in West Tennessee (1984–2018), we first estimate

To cope with the lack of quantifiable knowledge about the occurrence of nature-related risks, scenario analysis has emerged as a way to investigate possible futures. We argue that expressing scenario narratives as causal models – leveraging causal Bayesian graphs – opens up new avenues for designing and using scenarios. As one use case of this approach, we show how dynamic Bayesian networks to assess

This article reviews a rapidly growing literature on how climatic risks and events affect public finances around the world. This literature includes empirical evaluations of how past climatic events have affected fiscal outcomes, empirical and model-based assessments of how climatic risks affect public borrowing costs, and macro-fiscal-climate models that investigate the policy and welfare implications

The extent to which natural disasters influence changes in human capital and productivity remains an open empirical question with significant policy implications. This article provides a systematic review of econometric studies examining the economic impacts of natural disasters on human capital over the past 10 to 15 years. It concentrates exclusively on quantitative studies with both macro-level

The paper presents a modified version of Path Formulation for an Area Restriction Model (ARM). The operational research tool automatically constructs suitable buffers among forest unit boundaries to optimise harvesting scheduling in case of management constraints (i.e. maximum adjacent harvested area, green-up age, minimum level of net present value – NPV – to be obtained in different periods etc.)

Cocoa production has increased in Cameroon since the 2000s, supported by policies to enhance productivity, yields, farmer incomes and state revenues. Other policies incentivize zero-deforestation production and forest protection. However cocoa farming practices cause deforestation and degradation. Scientific evidence of practice-policy interactions is lacking. Given this context we identified perceptions

Fuels treatments intended to reduce fuel loads and improve forest health on public lands offer one way to reduce wildfire hazards in the wildland-urban interface (WUI), where the natural and built environments meet. However, for fuels treatment implementation to be successful, it must comply with regulatory and scientific standards and be supported by local communities, as lack of acceptance can lead

Numerous studies have examined the preferred approaches of various actors in Germany regarding the management of degraded forests and forestry under climate change. These studies often portray forestry and nature conservation as opposing perspectives. This paper analyzes the positions of actors from both groups on current forest dieback in Germany by evaluating information on their websites. Using

The Circular Economy (CE) paradigm has gained traction in both academic discourse and industrial practice. While a transition towards a CE is generally associated with more sustainable futures, less is known about its socio-economic feasibility. This article provides a systematic literature review of contributions to macroeconomic modelling which evaluate environmental and socio-economic impacts of

Forest restitution involves returning forest land to its rightful owners or their heirs, often following nationalisation or expropriation. While previous studies have evaluated the effectiveness of policies and governance mechanisms related to forest restitution in Southeastern Europe, there is limited research on how changes in ownership affect the governance and management of such returned properties

Inclement weather conditions are threatening human health and life in many parts of the world. In particular heat and cold are dangerous working conditions for outdoor work and thus objects of forest work science. Corresponding research has been done, but to a limited extent. An exacerbation of the weather-related threats has been observed, as part of the climate crisis. What does this mean for activities

Ecological economics emphasizes the interaction between economic systems, governance, environment and society. Doughnut economics has emerged within ecological economics, aiming to ensure a good life for all within planetary boundaries. Its framework can be operationalized at multiple scales and across diverse contexts and has been adopted in over forty cities and regions worldwide. In 2021, the Municipality

Forests are vital carbon sinks, playing a key role in combating climate change by absorbing nearly one-third of global annual greenhouse gas emissions. In Finland, forests cover 75 % of the country's land area. However, there is currently no policy in place to encourage increased carbon sequestration on privately-owned forestland. This study aims to explore forest owners' preferences for results-based

As climate change generates more damaging weather-related events more often, the question of who bears intensifying disaster risk becomes increasingly pertinent. Drawing on disaster sociology, the environmental justice literature and quantitative studies of disaster impacts in real-estate markets, this paper contributes to research efforts to explore distributional questions of climate risk. We examine

Like many African countries, balancing conservation goals with the livelihoods of forest-dependent communities remains a persistent challenge in Ghana's Bia Biosphere Reserve (BBR). Usually, conservation policies sideline local knowledge, creating tensions between ecological preservation and economic survival. This study examines how integrating local perspectives into forest governance can bridge

Forests and environmental areas remain important sources of rural livelihoods in many parts of the world. As economies industrialise and forest is lost, households typically transition towards increasingly commercial livelihoods. Consequently, the relative importance of forests and environmental products tends to decrease. This paper compares rural and environmental incomes on both sides of the national

Despite the critical role of forests in sustaining livelihoods, knowledge gaps remain regarding the food security of forest-dependent communities. Existing research predominantly emphasizes forest-based livelihoods and agricultural activities for income and subsistence, often neglecting the broader spectrum of livelihood strategies adopted by these communities. This study investigates the relationship

Economists have long studied the diffusion of improved agricultural technologies, often aiming to understand and relax the constraints that discourage their adoption among smallholder farmers. While this effort has documented and explored a long list of on-farm market constraints, the role of agrodealers in agricultural input markets has received far less attention—a critical blind spot. We review

Climate-smart soil health practices, such as cover crops and no-till, are considered to be key elements for climate change adaptation and mitigation in agriculture. We examine the empirical literature that provides data-driven evidence on the impact of cover crops and no-till on several economic variables of interest, such as yields, inputs, profits, risk, erosion, and water quality. In general, existing

Deliberation – the process of group discussion and consideration – has been increasingly integrated to valuation of ecosystem services. In an online stated preference survey on the Fanjing Mountain National Nature Reserve in the Southwestern China, we assessed participants' willingness to pay (WTP) for cultural services (non-material benefits gained through interacting with nature, including its ecological

Stopping tropical deforestation is required to achieve climate change adaptation, conserve biodiversity and preserve forest livelihoods and cultures across the globe. We evaluate the causal impact of crop and livestock production subsidies (PROCAMPO and PROGAN) on deforestation in the state of Campeche, Mexico, with the highest national rate of forest cover loss. A quasi-experimental design was applied

State preferential forest property tax programs (PFPTP) are commonly used to incentivize landowners to keep their land in a forested condition. For those PFPTPs that offer multiple enrollment periods, an important decision landowners face is the length of time they commit their land to the program, especially if the program's financial benefits are linked to the length of time enrolled. This study

Establishing new bio-based sectors requires effective implementation of innovation and production supply chains, often competing with established synthetic technologies. Our analytical model conceptualizes the competition between an incumbent industry and a competitive fringe, each producing differentiated products. Although motivated by the β-carotene case, the model is versatile and applicable to

Transport infrastructures dedicated to low-carbon public transport are seen as a central tool in public policy strategies to mitigate climate change. Yet, the development of transport infrastructures has significant direct and indirect negative effects on biodiversity and social acceptability of these impacts remain little assessed. In this study, we analyse potential impacts of 20 tramway existing

This work focuses on the global economic efficiency of energy use, defined as the ratio at world scale of Gross Domestic Product to Final Energy Consumption, including food for humans and feed for draft animals. With a simple hypothesis of energy efficiency gains being proportional to economic activity, it evidences that for the last two centuries energy efficiency grew on average exponentially with

We present an updated, stock-flow consistent version of the ‘Dystopian Schumpeter meeting Keynes’ agent-based integrated assessment model. By embedding the model in a fully specified accounting system, all balance sheet items and financial flows can be explicitly and consistently tracked throughout a simulation. This allows for improved analysis of climate change and climate policy scenarios in terms

Ensuring universal access to clean water remains one of the most pressing global challenges, particularly in low-income countries. Despite considerable efforts under the United Nations Millennium Development Goal and Sustainable Development Goals, progress has been uneven, with persistent gaps in infrastructure financing and service delivery. In this review, we critically assess current measurements

Nature and biodiversity are in an unprecedented decline. One of the main policy solutions for reversing this trend involves putting a monetary value on biodiversity impacts. However, one of the concerns about valuing changes in biodiversity using economic valuation methods revolves around the methodological assumption that the public accurately and adequately understands and perceives this inherently

As the realized experiences of wildfires threatening communities increase, the importance of proactive evacuation preparation and wildfire risk mitigation on private property to reduce the loss of lives and property is shaping wildfire policy and programs. To date, research has focused on pre-wildfire evacuation preparation and risk mitigation independently. This paper examines the substitutability

It is well established in the literature that fish products with the ecolabel of the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) obtain price premiums in food retailing compared to non-labeled substitutes. However, premiums vary substantially between species, with the expensive Atlantic cod commanding much higher MSC premiums than low-value species like Alaska pollock, indicating that the most affluent consumers

Degrowth has gained attention in recent years as a paradigm for environmental activism and policy. While degrowth is often associated with prefigurative politics, there is emerging interest among degrowth proponents in contentious mass politics and engagement with other social movements. Debate has thus emerged over what kinds of social forces might be mobilised in pursuit of a degrowth transition

Understanding the role of energy in economic growth has been particularly successful when measuring it as useful exergy with, however, the major shortcoming of treating this (intermediate) flow as a primary factor of production. Here, we solve this issue by conceptualizing the economy with an extended energy macro sector (E-Sector) encompassing all primary-to-final-to-useful exergy conversions, supplying

The global transition to a carbon-neutral economy presents significant challenges, particularly in the deployment of renewable energy and storage technologies. A key aspect of this transition is the production and use of green hydrogen. This depends on the deployment of electrolysers and fuel cells, requiring critical raw materials in their manufacturing processes. In the European Union (EU), these

Social sustainability aims to enhance societal wealth, and the forest-based bioeconomy contributes to this goal by leveraging forests and wood to create products and services. Recently, the forest-based bioeconomy has been critically examined through a social sustainability lens, emphasizing its evolving nature and the engagement of local communities. This study used a narrative literature review with

Crop diversification has gained interest due to its role in climate change adaptation. While previous studies have focused on farm productivity and income variability, this study examines the relationship between crop diversification and farm performance, considering farm size, socio-economic status and location. Using French Farm Accountancy Data Network data from 2010 to 2022, we analyse 19,822 observations

Adequate warmth, cooling, lighting, and electrical device use are indispensable in upholding suitable living standards, health, and social inclusion. The energy crisis that followed the COVID-19 pandemic and exacerbated by rising energy prices due to the Russian-Ukrainian war has pushed energy poverty to the forefront of the EU political agenda. Although it is largely contingent upon the availability

We estimate public benefits associated with conserving wild Spring Chinook salmon and Winter Steelhead in Oregon’s Willamette Basin, both listed as Threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Using a choice experiment survey, we examine Oregonians’ willingness-to-pay (WTP) through higher taxes to support different recovered fish populations at various recovery timelines. Results indicate substantial

The biodiversity components of ESG ratings are analysed to understand whether this disclosure mechanism can affect investment decisions, improve outcomes for biodiversity or lead to better management of nature-based risks. We analyse the relationship between stock returns and firms' biodiversity ratings and how biodiversity ratings are related to firm characteristics. We conclude that biodiversity

Integrated conservation and development efforts in low- and middle-income countries have emphasized the devolution of forest management to local communities. This approach is posited to benefit both communities and conservation, but those benefits may depend on community capacity to capture value added, e.g., by processing forest products. In Mexico, most forests are under community management, but

A growing literature on agricultural productivity in low- and middle-income countries has asked whether the gender of farmers may influence the level or growth rate of productivity. Using new data at the plot level, researchers have compared the productivity of plots managed by men and women. Expanding these analyses to include jointly managed and collectively managed plots has provided new insights

Cross-Timbers (CT) forests, located in a transition ecoregion between eastern forests and western grasslands of the southern Great Plains of the United States, provide numerous ecosystem services to the residents of Oklahoma, Texas, and Kansas. Growing climate variability, decades of fire suppression, woody plant encroachment, anthropogenic activities, and notable lack of active management have altered

The chemical industry is one of the largest consumers of fossil raw materials in the European Union (EU). Phasing out the use of fossil carbon both for energetic and material use (decarbonization/defossilization) requires the introduction of alternative processes and systems of production and consumption. One strategy that brings forward the defossilization of the chemistry sector is the use of biomass

Tree and forest biosecurity policies and practices are evolving in response to changing and growing threats. While much research is reflected in the literature on solving the problem(s) of biosecurity, less has been written about how the problem is represented. We analysed how the problem of tree and forest biosecurity is represented by researchers, quarantine and government officials in Southeast

The natural resource utilization behavior of rural households adjacent to nature reserves (NRs) critically determines the success of biodiversity conservation efforts. However, the enduring impacts of households' early experiences with NR establishment—particularly exposure to abrupt “fortress conservation” policies—on their subsequent resource use, and how these effects vary across generations based

Previous studies show that the optimal rotation period would be infinitely long when carbon price is sufficiently high, indicating that forest preservation could serve as an optimal strategy for mitigating global warming. This paper examines the impact of the substitution effect of harvested wood products (HWP) and the risk of natural disturbances on the optimality of infinitely long rotation period

Against the backdrop of environmental pollution, resource depletion and imbalance between supply and demand, the scrap copper trade market has become increasingly active. This paper adopts the complex network analysis method to not only explore the pattern evolution of the global scrap copper trade, but also innovatively use the temporal exponential random graph model to analyze the dynamic formation

The agglomeration bonus has been proposed as an effective and cost-effective instrument for inducing the spatial aggregation of conservation measures. It consists of a spatially homogenous base payment (like most existing payment schemes) plus a bonus for each adjacent land parcel that is conserved, too. While the agglomeration bonus has been investigated in numerous theoretical studies, very few applied

This paper proposes a wood-based panel futures price prediction method incorporating supply chain features, aiming to improve prediction accuracy and explore price formation mechanisms. The model constructs a multi-dimensional feature system by integrating upstream material price indices including timber, chemical raw materials, and energy, as well as downstream indicators such as the construction

The importance of forests for the provision of ecosystem services is uncontested. Monitoring these services' availability is a key process to discuss sustainability, planning and management measures and provide information for decision-making at different policy levels. Particularly forests close to or in urban areas are predominately intensively used by various stakeholder groups, who benefit from

The bioenergy industry is a core component of the EU approach to reduce its dependency on non-renewable resources while attempting to support biomass producers and farmers in rural areas. However, bioenergy activities also pose governance challenges associated with intensified inter-organizational collaborations and network relations between farmers, bio-industries and other supply chain actors. Often

As strategies to increase forest cover become more widespread as part of countries' environmental commitments, assessing the trade-offs between economic and environmental aspects of forestry activities is an increasingly pressing issue. This article addresses this question by assessing the cost-effectiveness of increasing forest cover under different land use management strategies that differ in their

Since 2002, the Community Connect Grants (CCG) Program has provided financial assistance to provide broadband service in rural, economically challenged communities where service does not exist. We employ the event study model to show that a zip code receiving the grant experiences a 9.3 per cent increase in crop productivity after three years. This positive effect is predominantly driven by low-income

Governments provide more than USD 800 billion annually in environmentally harmful subsidies at the global level despite international commitments. This paper introduces a novel and replicable framework for identifying biodiversity-harmful subsidies within national budgets. Our multidimensional approach is based on the five drivers of biodiversity loss: land use change, resource exploitation, climate

Public attitudes play a critical role in the successful implementation of national policies. However, there is a scarcity of systematic research presenting the Chinese public's sentiments regarding the “substituting plastic with bamboo” policy. With the increasing use of social media platforms for expressing views on policies, this research employs web crawler technology to collect public data from

Environmental values are commonly explained through three theories: post-materialism suggests affluence enables environmental concern, materialism argues environmental harm drives concern, while disconnection theory posits economic growth creates both concern and degradation. We test these frameworks at two levels. First, using aggregate U.S. time-series data (1990–2021), and Vector Autoregression

Intensive agriculture and increasingly homogeneous agricultural landscapes are major drivers of biodiversity loss. The implementation of landscape features (e.g. hedges, trees, and field margins) as part of ecological focus areas on farms is a promising approach. This study aims to fill the gaps in understanding the influence of factors related to farmers' willingness and ability on their implementation

The catastrophic consequences of natural disasters on social and economic systems are extensively documented, yet their influence on individuals' sense of control over their life outcomes remains unexplored. This study pioneers an investigation into the causal effects of natural disaster-related home damage on the locus of control. Utilizing Australian longitudinal data, we implement an individual

Cocoa production in Ghana remains a vital source of rural livelihoods but is also a major driver of tropical deforestation. This study explored cocoa farmers' perceptions of how livelihood interventions under the Ghana Cocoa Forest REDD+11Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation, plus the Sustainable Management of Forests, Conservation, and Enhancement of Forest Carbon Stocks in