Integrating ecological and economic models for assessing institutional, environmental and technological change on rangeland /
Research for integrating ecological and socioeconomic models
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| Format: | Thesis Book |
| Language: | English |
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[Place of publication not identified] :
[publisher not identified] ;
1996.
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| Online Access: | http://proxy.library.tamu.edu/login?url=http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=739668901&sid=1&Fmt=2&clientId=2945&RQT=309&VName=PQD |
| Summary: | Research for integrating ecological and socioeconomic models for assessing socioeconomic impacts of technological, institutional and /or climatic change on rangeland ecosystems is a challenge. The main objective of this study was to develop an appropriate framework for integrating ecological and socioeconomic models and consequently for quantifying the socioeconomic impacts of changing on rangelands. This study was carried out from the point of view of systems theory, and the chosen research approach integrates a set of different models - Phytomass Growth Simulation Model (PHYGROW), Population Mixture Simulation Model (POPMIX), a rule base model (Animal Production Spreadsheet Calculator - APSC) and the Farm Level Income and Policy Simulation Model (FLIPSIM) within the developed framework. This framework was applied to a representative farm in South Texas to analyze different management strategies under two different climatic scenarios by manipulating the parameters and data related to forage production, animal production, and management strategies, the effects of technological, institutional and/or climate change can be represented and impacts assessed. Forage production and associated stocking rates for two cattle:goat ratios were simulated for 20 years. Two, ten-year weather scenarios, one representing normal conditions (30% drought years) and one representing dryer weather conditions (50% drought years) were analyzed. Management decisions rules were developed for the region to produce estimates of annual production and operating cost for the enterprises in each of the four scenarios. These performance and cost data were used as input into FLIPSIM, a firm level income and policy simulator, along with relevant product and input price data for the region. Integration of modeled results produced useful information showing the socioeconomic consequences for a typical South Texas firm impacted by alternative climatic conditions and management strategies. The framework developed herein represents an evolutionary effort in the task of streamlining and refining the ability to adequately assess the ecological and socioeconomic impacts of change on rangeland ecosystems. In so doing, this study offers evidence that the efforts to develop truly integrated models where the impacts of socioeconomic actions on the rangeland ecosystem could also be internalized and accounted for should be continued. |
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| Item Description: | Vita. "Major Subject: Rangeland Ecology and Management". |
| Physical Description: | xviii, 165 leaves : illustrations ; 28 cm. Issued also on microfiche from University Microfilms Inc. |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references: pages 63-71. |