Current News

CNREP Member Heads West African Data Collection Efforts
(August 25, 2009)

Dr. Hamady Diop, a CNREP cooperator and faculty member at Southern University in Baton Rouge, has been appointed Director of Research and Information Systems for the West Africa Subregional Commission of Fisheries. Headquartered out of Dakar, Senegal, Dr. Diop will be responsible for a seven nation effort aimed at standardizing the data collection systems and analyses for the marine fisheries off of the coast of West Africa. A graduate of the Department of Agricultural Economics at Louisiana State University, Dr. Diop will remain an active participant in CNREP.

Dr. Matthew Freeman Joins CNREP as a Postdoctoral Researcher
(August 15, 2009)

Matthew Freeman, who recently earned a Ph.D. in Environmental and Natural Resource Economics from the University of Rhode Island and a BSES in Environmental Economics and Management from the University of Georgia, has joined CNREP to participate in research efforts aimed at assessing the socioeconomic condition of the Gulf of Mexico Fisheries. Dr. Freeman, a native of coastal South Carolina, has previously worked in the areas of fisheries economics, experimental economics, and regulatory policy.

Dr. Tao Ran Joins CNREP as a Postdoctoral Researcher
(October 1, 2008)

Tao Ran, Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics and a Master in Applied Statistics, has joined CNREP to assist in the Center's efforts to better understand the commercial fisheries of the Gulf of Mexico. Dr. Ran, who has research interests in resource economics, environmental economics, and applied economics, recently completed a dissertation examining the behavior of the Gulf of Mexico shrimp fleet and its implications for regulatory management. While at CNREP, Dr. Ran will continue to focus on fishing behavior, including issues related to congestion externalities, risk aversion, and regulation.

CNREP Team Receives NOAA Grant for Socioeconomic Assessments
(September 1, 2008)

Rex Caffey, Louisiana Sea Grant coastal specialist and professor and director of the LSU Center for Natural Resource Economics & Policy (CNREP), along with CNREP co-investigators Walter Keithly and Richard Kazmierczak, were awarded a $648,512 grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Fisheries Service to conduct a socioeconomic assessment of the northern Gulf of Mexico’s fisheries. The three year research project will include 1) a survey and characterization of the recreational-for-hire charter fishing industry in the northern Gulf of Mexico; 2) an economic review of the recently-implemented individual fish quota management system for red snapper; and 3) development of a demand forecasting model for U.S. consumption of domestic seafood.

“Each of these studies will provide baseline data that is needed for state and federal fisheries management purposes,” said Caffey. “Periodic snapshot studies, such as these, are useful in describing the short- and long-term implications of policy changes and market forces. Armed with objective, science-based information, state and federal manager can make policy adjustments to assure that the nation’s fisheries are managed in an economically and environmentally sound manner.”

(An expanded version of this announcement can be found at the Louisiana Sea Grant Newsroom: http://www.laseagrant.org/comm/2008/grant.htm)

CNREP Advisory Committee Member Appointed to National Sea Grant College Program Position
(July 12, 2007)

Mike Liffmann, associate executive director of Louisiana Sea Grant and a member of the CNREP Advisory Committee, will become extension leader for the National Sea Grant College Program beginning in August.

“Mike’s new position as national extension leader is a reflection of his commitment to helping Sea Grant fulfill its mission of maintaining a healthy coastal environment and economy,” said Dr. Charles Wilson, Louisiana Sea Grant College Program executive director and Louisiana State University vice provost. “The national office has called on Mike before for assistance with various projects, so they recognize the value of his more than 20 years of experience with Louisiana Sea Grant.”

As national extension leader, Liffmann will work to enhance communication between the National Sea Grant Office and its extension network, provide coordination and leadership for fisheries extension enhancement programs and initiate collaborations with various Sea Grant partners. Liffmann will also remain an integral part of the CNREP Advisory Committee.

(An expanded version of this announcement can be found at the Louisiana Sea Grant Newsroom: http://www.laseagrant.org/comm/2007/liffmann.htm)

On-line Registration Opens for CNREP 2007 - Second National Forum on Socioeconomic Research in Coastal Systems
(December 1, 2006)

As of December 1st, online registration is officially open for CNREP 2007: Challenges of Natural Resource Economics & Policy, the 2nd National Forum on Socioeconomic Research in Coastal Systems. Participants registering before March 30th will receive a $50 discount over the cost of regular registration. For additional information go to: www.cnrep.lsu.edu/2007/registration.htm

CNREP Develops Innovative Hurricane Impact Model for Fisheries Damage Assessment
(November 15, 2006)

CNREP cooperators Richard Kazmierczak, Rex Caffey, Hamady Diop and Walter Keithly are in the final stages of a year-long assessment of the economic damages resulting from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The impact study - which is based on field-level surveying and data from the LSU Hurricane Center - provides a predictive model of the site-specific damages to fisheries infrastructure as a function of maximum storm surge height.

Over the past year, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) and the Louisiana Fishing Community Recovery Coalition (LFCRC) have used results from the CNREP study as justification for what has become $73 million in state and federal commitments for fisheries damage recovery in coastal Louisiana. Additional information on the involvement CNREP in this process can be found in fall edition of Coastal Clips by Louisiana Sea under the title: FisheriesAssessments Used in Funding Requests: http://www.laseagrant.org/pdfs/CC_No4_Fall06.pdf

External Advisory Committee Established
(November 15, 2006)

Eight prominent individuals from the fields of resource economics, environmental law, and coastal policy have accepted invitations to serve on the CNREP advisory council. Members of the inaugural council, who hail from state and federal agencies, universities, and non-governmental organizations; will provide CNREP access to national-level expertise on a broad range of economic and policy issues related to natural resource management. A listing of the CNREP Advisory Council members is available at: http://www.cnrep.lsu.edu/advisory.htm

CNREP Featured in Yale University Lecture Series
(October 17, 2006)

The Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies recently hosted CNREP Director Rex H. Caffey as part of a the 2006 Curtis and Edith Munson Distinguished lecture Series. This seminar series is coordinated on a biennial basis through the Yale Center for Coastal & Watershed Systems. This year’s theme was : Lessons from Katrina: Will crisis bring about significant policy changes that address coastal vulnerability? Dr. Caffey’s presentation, The State of Gulf of Mexico Fisheries: Reconciling Disaster Recovery and Ecosystem Restoration, was one of 10 lectures provided by university faculty from the U.S. and Europe during this fall semester.

Call for Abstracts for CNREP 2007 – The Second National Forum on Socioeconomic Research in Coastal Systems
(October 9, 2006)

The Center for Natural Resource Economics and Policy is announcing a call for abstracts for CNREP 2007: Challenges of Natural Resource Economics & Policy, the 2nd National Forum on Socioeconomic Research in Coastal Systems.

The conference, to be held in New Orleans, Louisiana on May 20-23, 2007, will focus on the opportunities and challenges of socioeconomic research in developing coastal zone management policy. Potential session topics include, but are not limited to, market and nonmarket valuation of coastal resources, environmental benefit-cost analyses, economic linkage/impact assessment, input-output modeling, and comparative assessments of resource management and restoration policy. Basic and applied research, extension-oriented, and policy discussion submissions are all welcome. The deadline for abstract submission is February 15, 2007. The call for abstracts is available at www.cnrep.lsu.edu/pdfs/CNREP_abstracts07.pdf

Francisco Aguilar Receives RFF Dissertation Award
(August 31, 2006)

Francisco Aguilar, a CNREP Affiliate Member and PhD candidate in the School of Renewable Natural Resources, has been selected as one of three individuals nationwide to receive a 2006-2007 Joseph L. Fisher dissertation award. This prestigious award, sponsored by Resources for the Future (RFF), is in recognition of Aguilar's research on determinants influencing the location of manufacturers of forest products in Louisiana.

RFF is a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization that conducts independent research -- rooted primarily in economics and other social sciences — on environmental, energy, and natural resource issues. Although RFF is headquartered in Washington, D.C., its research scope comprises programs in nations around the world.

Christiane Aust Completes Research on Coastal Restoration Economics
(May 30, 2006)

Graduate student Christiane Aust successfully defended her thesis in November of 2005 and graduated from LSU in May of 2006. Christiane’s th esis , entitled: Cost-Efficacy of Wetland Preservation and Restoration in Coastal Louisiana. is an ex post assessment of more than 300 candidate projects evaluated i n the last 15 years through the Coastal Wetland Planning, Protection, and Restoration Act (CWPPRA).

The project was funded through a graduate research assistantship provided to CNREP by the Louisiana Sea Grant College Program . Christiane was awarded the degree of Masters of Science in Agricultural Economics with a concentration in Natural Resource Economics and a minor in Environmental Studies. Christiane is currently employed with a firm in Vancouver, British Columbia. Link to Thesis: http://etd.lsu.edu/docs/available/etd-02172006-154429/

Director Caffey Wins Conservation Awards
(May 30, 2006)

Rex H. Caffey, Director and Associate Professor, Center for Natural Resource Economics & Policy, has been named the recipient of two distinguished conservation awards in 2006. The Louisiana Wildlife Federation named Caffey Louisiana’s Conservation Educator of the Year for 2006. He was also the recipient of a 2006 Coastal Stewardship Award sponsored by the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana. These awards recognize Dr. Caffey's outstanding accomplishments in applied research and extension programming related to coastal and wetland policy issues.

The Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana is a non-profit advocacy organization consisting of more than 700 individual members whose mission is the preservation, restoration and responsible stewardship of the coastal wetlands, waters and barrier shorelines of coastal Louisiana. The Louisiana Wildlife Federation is a statewide conservation education and advocacy organization with more than 10,000 members and 27 affiliate groups. Established in 1940, it is affiliated with the National Wildlife Federation and represents a broad constituency of conservationists including hunters, fishers, campers, birders, boaters and other outdoor enthusiasts.

Fisheries Impacts of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita:
(February 2, 2006)

This presentation provides and initial assessments of hurricane damages and predicted revenue losses to the Louisiana’s commercial and recreational fishing sectors. This is an audiovisual presentation that is relatively large – 12MB. After opening the file online or offline, use the F5 key to begin the presentation.
Download: KatRita-Fish-Econ-audio.ppt (12MB PowerPoint file)

CNREP Begins Hurricane Recovery Activities
(December 12, 2005)

CNREP personnel from all disciplines have been participating in the analysis, assessment, and recovery planning that have been taking place in Louisiana following the devastating late-summer hurricanes of 2005. While the initial post-storm estimates of damage to the state's agricultural and natural resources runs into the billions of dollars, the actual replacement of infrastructure and the rebuilding of industries requires a detailed examination of the extent and location of the damage, as well as consideration for how rebuilding efforts should be prioritized and sited. Work in the coming months will prove critical to the long-term success of Louisiana's recovery efforts, with CNREP researchers and outreach professionals intimately involved in all aspects of this work.

CNREP Approved by Board of Supervisors
(October 10, 2005)

Following a highly successful 18 months of initial operation, the Center for Natural Resource Economics & Policy (CNREP) recently received administrative approval from the Louisiana State University Board of Supervisors to operate as an official LSU System center. CNREP, by fostering the interaction of economic, social, and policy professionals to address natural resource and environmental problems, provides state and federal policy makers with an LSU-based source of research and outreach support that are critical to address problems associated with scarce natural resources and the environment. Specific program areas within CNREP include, but are not limited, to: 1) Bioeconomics of Energy Use; 2) Wetland Valuation and Economic Linkages; 3) Economic Management of Fisheries; 4) Human Dimensions of Wildlife Habitat Conservation; 5) Economics of Forest Management and Product Development; and 6) Socioeconomics of Land and Water Policy.

Funding Tops $1.7 Million
(October 8, 2005)

CNREP personnel have been active in their pursuit of short-term (sponsored grants) and long-term (institutional, foundation) funding to support the center's resource and environmental economics programs. Recent funding activities have generated over $1.74 million in new funding commitments through 2009, and an additional $2.89 million in proposals are pending. Current national sponsors include the National Sea Grant College Program, National Science Foundation, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the Gulf and Atlantic Fisheries Foundation. State sponsors of research and outreach projects include the Department of Environmental Quality, Louisiana Sea Grant College Program, and the Coastal Restoration & Enhancement through Science & Technology (CREST) program. Details of many of the funded projects can be obtained through the navigational links on the left side of this page.

CNREP Helps Coordinate Presidents' Forum
(September 25, 2005)

CNREP Director Dr. Rex H. Caffey is coordinating, along with various campuses of the LSU System, a series of meetings called the Presidents’ Forum on Meeting Coastal Challenges. The first of these forums, held in January 2005, attracted more than 160 scientists and government officials who met to discuss priorities for research on the socioeconomic challenges faced by coastal residents and industries. The second Presidents’ Forum, to be held in the spring of 2006, will address specific issues related to the hurricane devastation that occurred along the Gulf of Mexico coast.

Biocomplexity Project Funded
(September 10, 2005)

In conjuction with Cornell University, University of New Hampshire, University of Illinois, and the World Resources Institute, CNREP researcher Dr. John Westra received a 3-year grant from the National Science Foundation to examine linkages between human and biogeochemical processes in agricultural landscapes. This funding is provided by the NSF program: Biocomplexity in the Environment: Integrated Research and Education in Environmental Systems, Dynamics of Coupled Natural and Human Systems.