Research conducted for the 1998 Renewable Resources Planning Act (RPA) Assessment indicated that demand for limited natural resources continues to rise. Already, in several regions of the country, severe demand and supply imbalances for resource products and services have developed. Environmental resource problems, such as environmental pollution by agricultural chemicals, acid rain, urbanization of prime farmland, and rural resource development are also increasing.
Natural resource allocation and management can be facilitated through improved concepts, theory, and methods for resource assessment and policy analysis. Meeting these research needs is the purpose of the Environmental Resources Assessment Group (ERAG), a partnership between the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Southeastern Forest Experiment Station and the University of Georgia's Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics. Through cooperative research, the Resources Group-co-directed by Dr. H. Ken Cordell and Dr. John C. Bergstrom (respectively with the Southeastern Forest Experiment Station and the University of Georgia, Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics), develops and applies improved concepts, theories and methods for assessing local recreational resources; conducts research-related educational activities; disseminates research results, and cooperates with interested individuals, policy-makers, agencies, private firms, and others to address specific resource problems such as:
the use of public and private land and water resources for outdoor recreation, environmental and social values and uses specific to agricultural land, forest land, wilderness and other predominately
roadless rural areas, environmental issues and conflicts related to the use public and private natural resources, the social, economic, environmental, and public policy effects of recreational and environmental resource use, allocation,
and management.Who is Involved?
Dr. John C. Bergstrom, Professor, University of Georgia faculty Dr. H. Ken Cordell, Unit Director, US SE Forest Service Experiment Station R. Jeff Teasley, Research Coordinator, University of Georgia Carter J. Betz, Recreation Planner and Analyst, US SE Forest Service Experiment Station Paul Gentle, Post Doctoral Researcher, University of Georgia
National Survey on Recreation and the Environment (NSRE) RPA Assessment Florida Keys Survey - Link to the NOAA, ORCA Information Service National Private Landowners Survey Geographic Information Systems