Eneida Maria Goddi Campos egoddica@uvm.edu Associate Research Professosr in Applied Economics at UFSJ (Brazil) and Visiting Professor/Researcher at the Gund Institute for Ecological Economics (UVM) Relationship with MIMES: Phone: 802-656-0380 |
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Dr. Campos joined the Gund Institute in November 2005 as a post-doctorate in Ecological Economics and one year later she became a visiting professor/researcher where she is largely involved with the MIMES (Multi-scale Integrated Modeling on Earth’s System) project. She also has collaborated in researches in different Brazilian biomes such as Atlantic Forest and Amazon Rainforest.
Dr. Campos' research interests include modeling and valuating ecosystem services, and payment for ecosystem services schemes. She has conducted research in economic valuation of natural resources, emphasizing on conservation of remaining forest and sustainable uses of agricultural soil. She has proposed the introduction of the variable “Willingness to Work Voluntarily” (WWV) to the conventional methodology, which is helping overcome the bias of underdevelopment when added to WTP, increasing the estimated value of the ecosystem services. It’s also more coherent with the principles of ecological economics and degradation measures.
Moreover, she is intending to model a bundle of ecosystem services such as ecotourism, recreational activities and environmental education provided by Sao Jose Mountain, an Brazilian environmental protected area that belongs to the biosphere reserve created by UNESCO in 1992. The remaining of the Atlantic Forest existing there provides ecosystem services such as ancient water falls, opportunities for relaxation, and recreational activities (camping, hiking and ecotourism). The mountain provides habitat for some 50% of all species of dragonflies known in Minas Gerais State (about 18% of those found in Brazil) and nursery for rare species such as orchids and other plants, creating opportunities for nature study, environmental education and field laboratories for scientific research. However, the urbanization process surround this area, added to illegal selling of orchids, several burnings have caused degradation and depletion of its natural capital. She expects that the integrated model within the MIMES framework will allow her to understand and valuate the ecosystem services provided by this area, helping decision makers give adequate weight to this ecosystem, initiating payment for ecosystem services schemes and developing desirable public policies in local/regional levels.
Another project will be to model and value the erosion control and sediment retention by restoration of eroded soil in Grande River watershed that has caused severe sedimentation of reservoirs of hydroelectric companies. Projects supported by Environmental National Fund and European Commission have been initiated in this area.
