Invitation to Participate in “Next Generation Environmental Restoration in Maryland”
We invite you to collaborate with us on promoting innovation in environmental restoration in Maryland. We will provide opportunities to brainstorm new ideas, consider approaches being used elsewhere, and suggest changes to existing procedures and policies that could jumpstart efforts to expand activities in the environmental restoration sector.
Specific topics discussed will include: wetland mitigation banking; stream restoration; stormwater retrofits; cost-effective design; nutrient and wetland credit trading; benefits, costs and risks; navigating permitting requirements; and troubleshooting problems.
Who should participate?
Environmental restoration practitioners, stormwater engineering firms, land developers are all encouraged. We will also be soliciting input from county governments through another process.
What is asked of participants?
Participate in a webinar (Date: October 2nd or 11th); attend an in-person workshop (Date: Winter 2018-9, TBD); and review a draft report.
Expected outcomes
This project was initiated by the Maryland Department of the Environment who seek to understand opportunities and challenges of environmental restoration. The outcomes of this project will be a presentation and a report to Maryland county officials and Maryland
Department of the Environment on suggestions to enhance restoration. Suggestions are likely to include specific actions and investments that the state might make to create incentives for action and support businesses in developing new approaches to achieving environmental goals.
Who we are
Dr. Lisa Wainger, who is leading this effort, is a professor of environmental economics at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Chesapeake Biological Lab. Dr. Wainger has over 20 years of experience in applying economic analysis to promote efficient environmental policies. She works with her team to promote cost-effective approaches to generate ecologically significant and economically relevant outcomes of ecological restoration. Dr. Wainger is a frequent economics advisor to government agencies (e.g., Maryland Department of the Environment, US Army Corps of Engineers, White House Council on Environmental Quality, National Academies of Science) and is past Chair of the Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee to the EPA Chesapeake Bay Program.
To participate
Email the Wainger Team at ceballos@umces.edu with your name, title, company/affiliation, contact information (email/phone number) and preferred date of webinar (October 2 or October 11, 2018). Or, email any questions to the same email address: ceballos@umces.edu.
