Spring Break
URI economists test ecological investment
Christina Cannon
Issue date: 4/18/08 Section: Campus
04/18/08 - University of Rhode Island professor of natural resources and economics Stephen Swallow is part of an initiative in Jamestown that will restore farmland that serves as a natural habitat for Bobolink birds.
For the second year, URI economists have been undertaking an intriguing project. The town of Jamestown has been asked to "invest" in hayfields on the island, giving farmers the ability to restore old fields.
"The Bobolink, an open grassland bird, was once said to be the most common bird in Rhode Island, now [they are] no where near as densely populated as it used to be," Swallow said.
Farmers in Rhode Island harvest their hay fields two to three times a year to keep up with the demand for feed and the use of hay. The Bobolink and several other wetland birds nest in the hayfields.
When the farmers harvest their crop, they mow over nests; birds can fly away but their eggs cannot. This is a large problem because the Bobolink migrates to Argentina in the winter, and then flies back to New England for the nesting period, leaving them no time to re-nest.
"Farmers aren't bird killers, they just want to stay in business," Swallow said.
Investments from the people of Jamestown will compensate the farmers who choose to limit their cattle grazing and mowing from the end of May to the beginning of July. This is also the Bobolink nesting season.
Last year, Swallow said the project raised $9,000. In 2007, 350 residents of Jamestown participated in the project and donated from $5 to $200, which delayed the harvest of three hayfields. Swallow added that investors also receive partial funds back if more money is raised than the project needs, which is done to ensure that the money isn't going to anything else but bird conservation.
This project is funded by a Conservation Innovation grant from the USDA and EcoAsset Markets, Inc., a small start-up company from Providence. EcoAsset Markets, Inc. is trying to create business opportunities through ecosystem services.
Ecologists want to develop different approaches to pricing so that farmers can do better things for the ecosystem.
"The government is more focused on issues overseas," Swallow said. "Whoever our next president will be will have a better handle on the needs of the ecosystem."
He said that by working with the environment to enrich the land conservation and bird population, the farmers are also enriching their business portfolios. "The government can be clumsy and slow," Swallow said.
For the second year, URI economists have been undertaking an intriguing project. The town of Jamestown has been asked to "invest" in hayfields on the island, giving farmers the ability to restore old fields.
"The Bobolink, an open grassland bird, was once said to be the most common bird in Rhode Island, now [they are] no where near as densely populated as it used to be," Swallow said.
Farmers in Rhode Island harvest their hay fields two to three times a year to keep up with the demand for feed and the use of hay. The Bobolink and several other wetland birds nest in the hayfields.
When the farmers harvest their crop, they mow over nests; birds can fly away but their eggs cannot. This is a large problem because the Bobolink migrates to Argentina in the winter, and then flies back to New England for the nesting period, leaving them no time to re-nest.
"Farmers aren't bird killers, they just want to stay in business," Swallow said.
Investments from the people of Jamestown will compensate the farmers who choose to limit their cattle grazing and mowing from the end of May to the beginning of July. This is also the Bobolink nesting season.
Last year, Swallow said the project raised $9,000. In 2007, 350 residents of Jamestown participated in the project and donated from $5 to $200, which delayed the harvest of three hayfields. Swallow added that investors also receive partial funds back if more money is raised than the project needs, which is done to ensure that the money isn't going to anything else but bird conservation.
This project is funded by a Conservation Innovation grant from the USDA and EcoAsset Markets, Inc., a small start-up company from Providence. EcoAsset Markets, Inc. is trying to create business opportunities through ecosystem services.
Ecologists want to develop different approaches to pricing so that farmers can do better things for the ecosystem.
"The government is more focused on issues overseas," Swallow said. "Whoever our next president will be will have a better handle on the needs of the ecosystem."
He said that by working with the environment to enrich the land conservation and bird population, the farmers are also enriching their business portfolios. "The government can be clumsy and slow," Swallow said.
