Many countries have started ambitious tree planting programs to recognize the benefits of forests to mitigate climate change by sequestering carbon to support rural livelihoods. Restoration ecologists caution us, however, that planting trees is not always the same as restoring a forest. India has been continuously committed to planting trees on a large scale for…
Tag: environment
Research Quick Take: Spatializing the Municipal Bond Market: Urban Resilience under Racial Capitalism
The number of majority-Black cities and towns in the United States has more than doubled in the past 50 years, including 21 cities of more than 100,000 people. An ongoing and dynamic process of “white flight” is mainly responsible for this trend. While many US cities are global cities, hubs of wealth, power, information, and…
Swarming tornadoes
This post first appeared on the Florida State University’s Department of Geography News & Chair’s Blog. The violent winds of tornadoes are one of the most dangerous natural hazards on Earth. While relatively rare in any one location they often occur in swarms. I’ve been working with graduate student Zoe Schroder to answer the question of whether…
Living with the Lionfish Problem: Awareness and Joint Operations
This post first appeared on the Devoe L. Moore Center blog. As Florida looks inward to address ecological concerns, the lionfish invasion continues to plague coastal citizens and marine fauna. The problem has hampered both fishermen and ecological researchers in the Gulf Coast, effectively choking growth and stability on local reefs. With a growing population in the Gulf,…
Envisioning St. George Island: A Graduate Planning Project at the Front Lines of Community Engagement and Sustainability
Florida is known worldwide for its beautiful beaches, warm climate, and top-ranked tourist destinations. Florida also has the distinction of being one of the nation’s fastest growing states. Balancing the desires and demands of our ever-growing population with the need to ensure the viability of our economic and natural resources has long been a challenge faced…
Climate Change’s Effect on Tornadoes
Tornadoes, with their potentially violent winds, are one of the most dangerous natural hazards on Earth. While tornadoes are generally pretty rare in any one location, they often occur in swarms. My research attempts to answer the question of whether or not climate change is making tornado swarms worse, and if so, how. Tornadoes can occur anywhere in the United States but are most common east of the Rocky Mountains (see Figure 1). Tornadoes form from large thunderstorms primarily during the months of March through May. These giant thunderstorms are capable of producing very destructive long lasting tornadoes. Swarms of tornadoes are…
PhD Spotlight: Local Participation in Sustainable Development Efforts
This dissertation explores the impact of local participation on the performance of sustainable development projects. The first chapter of this dissertation uses game theory to explore how a strategic, cost-sensitive development agency will use activities like local participation to strengthen the effectiveness of a payment-based project (wherein payments incentivize local cooperation). This analysis highlights the…
Sedentary Time Linked to Weather for Kids in Mexico City
Global increases in sedentary behavior – like sitting or lying down – are worrisome for public health as they may be harbingers of increased mortality and morbidity, such as obesity and high blood pressure. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly 25% of adults and more than 80% of adolescents across the world are not physically…
Ph.D. Spotlight: “The Island of Lies”: A Qualitative Inquiry of the Disaster Response and Recovery in Puerto Rico Post-Maria
Hurricane Maria made landfall on the island of Puerto Rico in the early hours of September 20th, 2017. Hurricane Maria was a storm of unprecedented strength and a devastating blow to the island of Puerto Rico as the 5th strongest storm to ever hit United States territory. The unparalleled level of devastation combined with a slow-moving…
Ph.D. Spotlight: Drivers’ Perceptions Towards Cyclists and Bikeshare Users in the ECOBICI Service Area.
Despite the rapid global motorization, especially in developing countries, the use of the bicycle as urban transportation has increased in the last 35 years (Shaheen, Guzman, & Zhang, 2012). However, the United States, Canada, and Mexico have low cycling levels with bicycle mode share of little more than one percent (Buehler & Pucher, 2012). Some…
Wicked Problems, Wicked Solutions 