Michaela Roberts
I am an environmental economist with a background in ecology. I am interested in environmental conservation, and particularly how this integrates into agriculture and multi-use landscapes. I use methods such as stated preference modeling and cost-effectiveness analysis to consider available options for environmental conservation, which are able to take account of socio-economic as well as environmental needs. I am also interested in Natural Capital accounting.
Current research interests
- Cost-effectiveness analysis of peatland restoration in Scotland
- Natural Capital Accounting for Scotland - Urban Greenspace
- Public goods from agriculture and foresty
- Natural Capital in Afghanistan - Darwin Research Fellow Saeeda Gouhari based at Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh
Past research
University of St Andrews PhD: Environmental Conservation Across Ecosystem Boundaries: Connecting Management and Funding (2017)
I conducted cost-effectiveness analysis for control of invasive grazing species on Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands. This work involved ecological assessments of impacts of grazing on the terrestrial ecosystem, as well as the impacts on the coral reef due to increased sediment run off. I estimated costs of alternative actions, and carried out choice experiments with ecosystem users to estimate willingness to pay for controlling grazing.
Previous to my academic work I have worked for an NGO in Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands, researching the Yellow-shouldered Amazon population, including population studies, habitat, and threats. I have also worked in Tanzania and Belize.
Past James Hutton Institute Projects:
PROVIDE: Providing smart delivery of public goods by EU agriculture and forestry
Bibliography
- Roberts, M.; Byg, A.; Fasccioli, M.; Novo, P.; Kyle, C. (In press) Stakeholder perceptions of public good provision from agriculture and implications for governance mechanism design., Journal of Environmental Planning and Management
- Roberts, M. (2020) How does climate change impact demand for natural capital: implications for Scotland., Report to RESAS, 8pp.
- Glenk, K.; Novo, P.; Roberts, M.; Sposato, M.; Martin-Ortega J.; Shirkhorshidi, M.; Potts, J. (2020) The costs of peatland restoration: Analysis of an evolving database based on the Peatland Action Programme in Scotland., Report to Peatland Action and SEFARI.
- Hanley, N.; Roberts, M. (2019) The economic benefits of invasive species management., People and Nature, 1, 124-137.
- Roberts, M.; Cresswell, W.; Hanley, N. (2018) Prioritising invasive species control actions: evaluating effectiveness, costs, willingness to pay and social acceptance., Ecological Economics, 152, 1-8.
- Tindale, S.J.; Roberts, M.; Koseoglu, N.; Novo, P.; Kyle, C.; Byg, A.; Faccioli, M.; Komossa, F.; Schaller, L.; Slee, B.; Villanueva, A.J.; Zasada, I.; Viaggi, D. (2018) Evaluation of the co-construction research process., Report for PROVIDE (PROVIding smart DElivery of public goods by EU agriculture and forestry), Deliverable D2.5. Final Version, August 2018, 44pp.
- Roberts, M.; Kyle, C.; Tindale, S.; Koseoglu, N.; Schaller, L.; Targetti, S.; Ratinger, T.; Villanueva, A.J.; Zagorska, K.; Komossa, F. (2018) Report on practicability and transferability., Report for Provide (PROViding smart dElivery of public goods by EU agriculture and forestry), Deliverable D5.3., 313pp.
- Roberts, M.; Tindale, S.; Byg, A. (2018) Guidelines and report on workshops supporting WP4 and WP5., Report for Provide (PROViding smart dElivery of public goods by EU agriculture and forestry), Deliverable D2.4., 50pp.
- Glenk, K.; Novo, P.; Roberts, M.; Martin-Ortega, J.; Potts, J. (2018) The costs of peatland restoration in Scotland - considerations for data collection and systematic analysis., Report to Scottish Government, 34pp.
- Novo, P.; Byg, A.; Herrett, S.; Roberts, M. (2018) Biodiversity governance characteristics and values., Report on a Workshop, Edinburgh, February 2018, 12pp.
- Rivington, M.; Kuhfuss, L.; Roberts, M. (2018) The `Payment for Ecosystem Services? approach - relevance to climate change., Draft Report PES for CXC v9 MR , 16 April 2018, 30pp.
- Byg, A.; Roberts, M.; Kyle, C.; Tindale, S. (2018) Strengths and weaknesses of governance mechanisms - workshop report., PROVIDE Workshop Report, James Hutton Institute, Aberdeen, 21 February 2018, 17pp.
- Artz, R.R.E.; Faccioli, M.; Roberts, M.; Anderson, R. (2018) Peatland restoration - a comparative analysis of the costs and merits of different restoration methods., Report for ClimateXChange Scotland Website, Final report, March 2018, 48pp.
- Byg, A.; Novo, P.; Herrett, S.; Roberts, M. (2018) Governance for biodiversity - the role of values and perceptions., Report for James Hutton Institute or Sefari webpage, 14pp.
- Hanley, N.; Roberts, M. (2019) The economic benefits of invasive species management., People and Nature, 1, 124-137.
- Roberts, M.; Cresswell, W.; Hanley, N. (2018) Prioritising invasive species control actions: evaluating effectiveness, costs, willingness to pay and social acceptance., Ecological Economics, 152, 1-8.
- Mason, T.H.; Pollard, C.R.; Chimalakonda, D.; Guerrero, A.M.; Kerr-Smith, C.; Milheiras, S.A.; Roberts, M.; Rodrigue, P.; Bunnefeld, N. (2018) Wicked conflict: Using wicked problem thinking for holistic management of conservation conflict., Conservation Letters, Article No. e12460.
- Roberts, M. (2020) How does climate change impact demand for natural capital: implications for Scotland., Report to RESAS, 8pp.
- Glenk, K.; Novo, P.; Roberts, M.; Sposato, M.; Martin-Ortega J.; Shirkhorshidi, M.; Potts, J. (2020) The costs of peatland restoration: Analysis of an evolving database based on the Peatland Action Programme in Scotland., Report to Peatland Action and SEFARI.
- Tindale, S.J.; Roberts, M.; Koseoglu, N.; Novo, P.; Kyle, C.; Byg, A.; Faccioli, M.; Komossa, F.; Schaller, L.; Slee, B.; Villanueva, A.J.; Zasada, I.; Viaggi, D. (2018) Evaluation of the co-construction research process., Report for PROVIDE (PROVIding smart DElivery of public goods by EU agriculture and forestry), Deliverable D2.5. Final Version, August 2018, 44pp.
- Roberts, M.; Kyle, C.; Tindale, S.; Koseoglu, N.; Schaller, L.; Targetti, S.; Ratinger, T.; Villanueva, A.J.; Zagorska, K.; Komossa, F. (2018) Report on practicability and transferability., Report for Provide (PROViding smart dElivery of public goods by EU agriculture and forestry), Deliverable D5.3., 313pp.
- Roberts, M.; Tindale, S.; Byg, A. (2018) Guidelines and report on workshops supporting WP4 and WP5., Report for Provide (PROViding smart dElivery of public goods by EU agriculture and forestry), Deliverable D2.4., 50pp.
- Glenk, K.; Novo, P.; Roberts, M.; Martin-Ortega, J.; Potts, J. (2018) The costs of peatland restoration in Scotland - considerations for data collection and systematic analysis., Report to Scottish Government, 34pp.
- Novo, P.; Byg, A.; Herrett, S.; Roberts, M. (2018) Biodiversity governance characteristics and values., Report on a Workshop, Edinburgh, February 2018, 12pp.
- Rivington, M.; Kuhfuss, L.; Roberts, M. (2018) The `Payment for Ecosystem Services? approach - relevance to climate change., Draft Report PES for CXC v9 MR , 16 April 2018, 30pp.
- Byg, A.; Roberts, M.; Kyle, C.; Tindale, S. (2018) Strengths and weaknesses of governance mechanisms - workshop report., PROVIDE Workshop Report, James Hutton Institute, Aberdeen, 21 February 2018, 17pp.
- Artz, R.R.E.; Faccioli, M.; Roberts, M.; Anderson, R. (2018) Peatland restoration - a comparative analysis of the costs and merits of different restoration methods., Report for ClimateXChange Scotland Website, Final report, March 2018, 48pp.
- Byg, A.; Novo, P.; Herrett, S.; Roberts, M. (2018) Governance for biodiversity - the role of values and perceptions., Report for James Hutton Institute or Sefari webpage, 14pp.