Publications

Daniels, A. and G. Cumming. 2008. Conservation or conversion? Understanding wetland change in northwest Costa Rica. Ecological Applications 18(1):  49-63.

Daniels, A., K. Painter. and J. Southworth.  2008. Changes in tropical dry forest structure in Yucatan, Mexico: the imprint of subsistence agriculture and edge effects.   Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 123(4):  293-304.

Daniels, A. 2006. Incorporating domain knowledge and spatial relationships into land cover classifications: a
rule-based approach. International Journal for Remote Sensing 27(14): 2949-2975.

Daniels, A. 2005. Conservation: a balance. Introduction and framework for innovation. Ecology. 86(10): 2841-
2844.

Daniels, A. 2004.  Protected area management in a watershed context:  a case study of Palo Verde National Park, Costa Rica.  M.S. Thesis.  University of Florida

Daniels, A 2002. Indigenous peoples and neotropical forest conservation: impacts of protected area systems on
traditional cultures. Macalester Environmental Review. Sept 23.

Manuscripts in Review

Daniels, A.E.  In review.  Forest expansion in northwest Costa Rica:  conjuncture of the global market, land-use intensification and forest protection.  (Springer Landscape Series).

Daniels, A., V. Esposito, K. Bagstad, et al.  In review.  A decade of PES:  building on Costa Rica's model and applying lessons learned.  Ecological Economics (special issue on Payments for Environmental Services).

Farley, J., A. Aquino, A. Daniels, et al.  In review.  Global mechanisms for sustaining and enhancing schemes of payments for environmental services.  Ecological Economics (special issue on Payments for Environmental Services).

Themes of Interest:

LULCC Modeling (Emphasis on understudied processes like wetland conversion & reforestation)

Protected Areas (How do they fit into the larger social and ecological landscape?)

Ecosystem Services  (What institutional arrangements best facilitate their provision?)

Watershed Management (How does land use/cover change affect hydrologic connectivity?)

Biodiversity Conservation (Emphasis on conserving ecosystem functioning)

Development Issues (The role of institutions in the development and conservation of resources)

Traditional Resource Management Knowledge

I am interested in human-environment interactions at broad geographic scales.  I study these interactions through models of land use and land cover change (LULCC).  Most of my research and work experience has been in Central America and in Florida. 

For my master’s degree (THESIS) (TESIS - espanol) I looked at landscape transformation in the Tempisque River Watershed of northwestern Costa Rica.  Intensification of agriculture, declining beef prices and increased protected land area has resulted in reforestation in the basin.  For my doctoral research, I am interested in examining the link between various land management strategies and spatial/temporal patterns of land cover change.  How is the provision of environmental services influenced by land cover change at regional scales?  What institutional and environmental policy designs are most effective in ensuring the provision of key ecosystem services? 

Research Links:

Payments for Environmental Services (WFT Conservation and Development Forum with Claudia Romero):

                                    Costa Rica Case Study

                                    Bibliography (and link to digital downloads) --> see also Katoomba Group

                                    Comparison Matrix --> If you have info to add, comments to make, please email me