UF-SNRE Program in Land Use Dynamics

UF-SNRE Program in Land Use Dynamics

A new synthesis of disciplines for the delivery of science for a sustainable future.

A new synthesis of disciplines for the delivery of science for a sustainable future.

Rationale• Florida population to double by 2030, and is extremely

dynamic with very high turnover• Population pressure on resources worldwide• Development is increasingly constrained by

environment (land, water, stormwater, power, transportation, amenities, existing development…)

• Changing significance of agriculture• Economic and market drivers of land value• Disaster mitigation• Public health reflects the structure of the urban and

semi-urban environment• Many others…..

Some assertions:• Besides pure research, part of our mission is the creation

of the best science for application to emerging problems • Policy makers urgently need new ideas• We are not elected or paid to create policy • Policy makers often do not hear us because we do not

offer them politically or economically viable options

• To be more effective we need to communicate more effectively across disciplines and offer solutions that include consideration of policy, institutional, and legal constraints

A new synthesisfinding value and efficiency in the overlaps

Land UseEcology

PlanningDesign

Construction

NaturalCapital(valuation)

MunicipalPolicy

Hydrology

Transportation

PublicHealth

Agriculture

Components for discussion

• Florida Land Use Institute– History and progress to date.

• UF/SNRE Program in Land Use Dynamics– Faculty Working Group in Land Use– Program goals

History of the Florida Institute for Integrative Land Use

• August 2005 - Developed collaboration with New College of Florida

• December 2005 - Sarasota Board of County Commissioners votes unanimously to award $2 million in cash and donate land for construction.

• February 2006 - Met with governor Bush who recommends that we apply for Centers of Excellence funding; President Machen indicates his willingness to make this a high priority for 2007-2008 UF funding requests.

• March 2006 - Two foundations in SW Florida express willingness to

fund an additional $1.5 to 4 million.

Components of Land Use Institute• Land use ecologyLand use ecology (ecologists, landscape architects)

Conservation design and integrative watershed management Ecosystem restoration

• Built environmentBuilt environment (planners, architects, contractors)

Community design and regional planning Transportation ecology

• Natural capital & resource valuationNatural capital & resource valuation (economists, property appraisers)

Land use and real estate economics Environmental economics

• Energy systems and energy distributionEnergy systems and energy distribution (engineers & economists)

Energy analysis & process engineering Energy supply and distribution economics

• Policy, institutional, and legal processesPolicy, institutional, and legal processes (lawyers, lobbyists)

Environmental and land use law Innovative environmental policy and governmental regulation

Critique of institute concept

• My expertise is critically important and it is not represented.

• Too broad (E. T. York).

• Why do it in Sarasota?

• We already do that and it is not needed.

• An institute is not the best model for delivery of this service.

Land institute timeline

• Spring - fall 2006 - Acquire donor and foundation support. UFF is fully engaged.

• July 2006 - Begin preparation of $10 million proposal for Centers of Excellence.

• $16.5 million funding in place by 1 January 2007

• January 2008 - Begin first year of operation.

UF / SNRE land use program• Participating units:

– Sociology, Political Science, Zoology, Botany, Wildlife, Forestry, Law, Geology, Geography, Soil and Water, Economics, Food and Resource Economics, EES, Psychology, CEP, UF Water Institute, LUECI, PREC, NRLI, and ….?

• Goals: – Integration of UF academics with the Land Institute as

a venue for research– Hiring of new lines at the interface of disciplines.– Extramural funding for innovative interdisciplinary

research and academic programs

Funding opportunities• Creation of Legislative Budget Request for

2007. • SNRE Mini-grants to capitalize extramural

proposals• NSF IGERT• NSF GK-12• EPA Network for Sustainability• NSF Partnerships for Innovation• NSF Science and Technology Center (with Land Institute

- longer term)

• Center of Excellence (Institute, or at UF, or both?)

LBRAcademic areas:• Land use ecology• Planning, design, construction, and management of the built environment• Energy systems and energy distribution• Natural resource valuation• Policy, institutional and legal processes• Human demographics and social organization• Emerging technologies and their associated business applications

Support staff:• 4-6 TEAMS staff members

Program and operating recurring dollars