Peter Deadman of IU's Center for the Study of Institutions, Population and Environmental Change said the implication for policymakers is that it may be very difficult to create a single, uniform policy for an entire region. By looking at satellite imagery and aerial photos of Brazil and the Midwest, the researchers learned how households develop land-use strategies and the factors, including crop prices, conservation plans and state and federal forest protection programs, that influence their decision-making process.
CIPEC co-directors Elinor Ostrom and Emilio Moran and Associate Director Tom Evans participated in the study. The researchers' findings will be presented at the meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
To speak with Deadman, Ostrom, Moran or Evans, contact Ryan Piurek at 812-855-5393 or rpiurek@indiana.edu .