Skip to main content

Utility

  • Admissions
  • Exploring Grad School
  • Current Students
  • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
  • Faculty + Staff
  • Alumni
Give
COVID-19 UPDATES
Report Sexual Misconduct
Home

Main navigation

search icon Search
  • Academics
    • Master of Science
    • Master of Landscape Architecture
    • Doctoral (PhD)
    • Dual-Degree Programs
    • Graduate Certificate Programs
    • Undergraduate Program
    • Courses
  • Research + Impact
    • Sustainability Themes
    • PhD Profiles
    • Student Research
    • Centers + Institutes
    • Faculty Profiles
    • Labs
  • Admissions
    • Exploring Graduate School
    • Why Michigan?
    • How to Apply
    • Funding
    • Visit Campus
    • For International Students
    • For Admitted Students
  • Student Services
    • Financial Aid
    • Career Services
    • Student Organizations
    • Student Development
    • Forms, Handbooks + Policies
  • News
    • Community Highlights
    • In the Media
  • Events
    • Co-Sponsorship Form
    • Submit Event
    • Conferences
    • Gallery
  • About
    • Who We Are
    • Leadership
    • Faculty Profiles
    • Administrative Departments + Staff
    • Facilities + Locations
    • Diversity, Equity + Inclusion
    • Art & Environment Gallery
    • History

  • Admissions
  • Exploring Grad School
  • Current Students
  • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
  • Faculty + Staff
  • Alumni
Give
COVID-19 UPDATES
Report Sexual Misconduct
search icon Search

Master's Projects

Image
Masters Projects
  • Sustainability Themes
  • PhD Profiles
  • Student Research
    • Master's Capstone Options
    • Master's Projects
    • Master's Thesis
  • Centers + Institutes
  • Faculty Profiles
  • Labs

Main navigation

  • Sustainability Themes
  • PhD Profiles
  • Student Research
    • Master's Capstone Options
    • Master's Projects
    • Master's Thesis
  • Centers + Institutes
  • Faculty Profiles
  • Labs

Enabling a Stewardship Economy in Rural Communities in the American West

Western USA
Project Description

Over the last three decades, many rural, isolated communities in the western United States have contended with four intersecting challenges: a downturn in natural resource-based economies; environmental degradation resulting from fire suppression, resource extraction, and intensive uses; a desire for new economic opportunities beyond tourism and recreation; and the need to build resilience in the face of a changing climate. Our research identified and studied rural western communities, in a variety of ecosystems, that have responded to these challenges by fostering community-based efforts that prioritize environmental stewardship as an economic and community development strategy. Some of these efforts include building socially- and economically-viable landscape-scale forest, watershed, and rangeland restoration projects; employing work crews to carry out these projects; helping ranchers and farmers maintain their livelihoods while investing in the health of land and water resources; and seeking to realize market and non-market value from natural resource stewardship. We conducted research in 13 communities to better understand what constitutes a “stewardship economy,” assess what stewardship economy activities are taking place, and identify what has enabled and constrained these activities’ success. Using this research, we developed recommendations for communities, government agencies, policy-makers, and foundations interested in advancing ecological, economic, and community well-being in the rural western United States.

Year
2020
Project Status
Past Project
Client Organization
Wallowa Resources
Students Involved

Emily Blackmer, MS (EPP); Logan Christian, MS (EPP, BEC); Rebecca Conway, MS (EPP), JD

SEAS Faculty Advisor
Julia M. Wondolleck
Steven L. Yaffee
Specializations
Behavior, Education, and Communication
Environmental Policy and Planning
seas logo
Dana Building
440 Church Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
(734) 764-6708
Email us
facebook
twitter
instagram
linkedin
youtube

Footer

  • Contact us
  • Intranet

© 2021 The Regents of the University of Michigan | Privacy Policy | Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Produced by Michigan Creative