Scholar Profiles
Rebecca Gruby
2005 - 2006 University Scholar
Mentor: Janaki Alavalapati
College of Agricultural and Life Sciences
"The USP provided me with the perfect avenue by which to delve into the complexities of environmental policy. I gained a thorough knowledge of qualitative research methodology, and invaluable experience in a field I plan to continue exploring. In fact, I am quite certain that my experiences with the USP helped me land a job in the research field with the respected Environmental Law Institute"
Rebecca is a senior majoring in natural resource conservation, with minors in English and agricultural and natural resource ethics and policy. Her academic interests focus on environmental policy and law, specifically its role in promoting the conservation of natural resources. She presented the findings of her USP research at the Southern Forest Economics Workshop, University of Tennessee, and the Student Conference on Conservation Science, Duke University, where she won first and second place, respectively, in the research poster competitions. Rebecca won the award for “Best qualitative research paper” in the 2005-2006 University Scholars Program and was named “Outstanding natural resource conservation student” by UF’s School of Forest Resources and Conservation in May of 2006. She is a member of Golden Key International Honors Society and won third place in the 2002-2003 Florida Collegiate Honors Council’s research writing contest.
Research Description:
Comparative Analysis of Institutions and Policies Influencing Private Forestry in Florida and New Brunswick: Implications for the Canada-US Softwood Lumber Trade Dispute
In response to increasing public concern for sustainable forest management, the governments of the United States and Canada have established several regulatory policies that significantly affect the functioning of private forest management in these countries.
Simultaneously, there are a host of incentive programs in operation in both countries that reward landowners for undertaking conservation compatible practices on their lands. These policies will not only address negative and positive externalities associated with timber and non-timber products production, but will also influence the profitability of forestry and, thus, the timber supply. A comparative advantage in the form of regulatory or incentive policies for private forestry would add fuel to the 20-year-old Canada-US softwood lumber trade dispute. This research consists of a systematic comparative analysis of institutions and policies influencing private forestry in the US and Canada using case studies from Florida and New Brunswick, in both of which private forestry is significant. The study concluded that though the regions share a similar burden of regulation, the marketing services and cost-share programs in New Brunswick are more extensive than those offered in Florida. The qualitative results of our analysis help reduce the potential for the extension of the current trade dispute to the private sector.
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