A spatial analysis of the economic and ecological efficacy of land retirement

Elizabeth P. Marshall, Frances R. Homans

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

This paper uses a cellular automata simulation model of a hypothetical landscape to investigate the role of location as it relates to the efficacy of land retirement in achieving two environmental goals: hydrological improvement and habitat improvement. Statistical analysis of simulation results is used to show how absolute and relative location relate to achievement of these objectives. Linear and nonlinear compromise programming frameworks then combine these two environmental objectives and a cost minimization objective into a measure that allows decision-makers to rank the desirability of different retirement strategies. These frameworks are explored to determine what each implies about the tradeoffs that must be made among objectives and among the spatial land parcel characteristics that contribute to those objectives.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)65-75
Number of pages11
JournalEnvironmental Modeling and Assessment
Volume9
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2004

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The authors gratefully acknowledge funding support from the Pennsylvania Agricultural Experiment Station and the Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station. The authors thank three anonymous referees for their insightful comments.

Keywords

  • Cellular automata
  • Compromise programming
  • Land retirement

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