Biodiversity Conservation

We apply scientific knowledge to find solutions for biodiversity conservation.

We use coupled human-natural systems science to inform environmental policy. We study what is called ecological “spatial subsidies” (the transport of energy, nutrients, or materials across ecosystem boundaries) to quantify previously uncalculated ideas such as the ecological benefits of migratory species, ecoclimate teleconnections (how variations in one climate region affects the ecosystem of a remote location), and evaluations on transboundary ecosystems services.

Research Groups

Lopez-Hoffman Lab

Ecology and policy, transboundary systems.

Projects

Approaches to Jaguar Conservation in the Southwestern U.S.

Investigating Payment for Ecosystem Services as an Approach to Jaguar Conservation in the Southwestern United States

Ecosystem Services in NEPA

Providing a systematic review of the use of ecosystem services in legislation and policy – with particular focus on how federal policy guidance on ecosystem services has or has not influenced environmental assessments under NEPA.

NEPAccess: Harnessing Data Science to Revolutionize Public Environmental Science and Governance

Environmental Policy and Data Science | Evaluating the role of environmental review and public participation in outcomes of environmental impact assessments under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

Transboundary Ecosystem Services Shared by the U.S. and Mexico

How migratory species facilitate sharing of ecosystem services