Michaela Roberts
I am an environmental economist with a background in ecology. I am interested in environmental conservation, and particularly how this integrates into multi-use landscapes, and how to include the needs of varied stakeholders. I use methods such as stated preference modeling and cost-effectiveness analysis to consider available options for land management, taking account of socio-economic as well as environmental needs.
Current research interests
- Cost-effectiveness analysis of peatland restoration in Scotland
- Soil valuation and management
- Urban Greenspace natural capital accounts, and opportunities and barriers for use
- Fire risk management - FirEUrisk
Past research
Past James Hutton Institute Projects:
PROVIDE: Providing smart delivery of public goods by EU agriculture and forestry
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.
Bibliography
- Martino, S.; Roberts, M.; Wooldridge, T.; Ovando Pol, P.; Moulliot, F.; Pernice, U.; Ortega, M.; Velea, R.; Laterza, R.; Moreira, B. (2022) Developing an Integrated Capitals Approach to Understanding Wildfire Vulnerability. Preliminary Considerations from a Literature Review, IX INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON FOREST FIRE RESEARCH & 17th International Wildland Fire Safety Summit, 11 - 18 November 2022, Coimbra, Portugal
- Roberts, M.; Byg, A.; Faccioli, M.; Novo, P.; Kyle, C. (2021) Stakeholder perceptions of public good provision from agriculture and implications for governance mechanism design., Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, 64, 289-307.
- Roberts, M.; Irvine, K.N.; McVittie, A. (2021) Associations between greenspace and mental health prescription rates in urban areas., Urban Forestry and Urban Greening. Published online.
- Kuhfuss, L.; Attalla, L.; Begg, G.; Hawes, C.; Gimona, A.; Lozada-Ellison, L.; Martinat, S.; McKeen, M.; Pakeman, R.; Roberts, M.; Zuta, A. (2021) Exploring alternative agrienvironmental payment schemes for arable land in Scotland, Online report
- Stewart, G.B.; Glendell, M.; McMorran, R.; Troldborg, M.; Gagkas, Z.; Ovando, P.; Roberts, M.; Maynard, C.; Williams, A.; Clay, G.; Reed, M.S. (2021) Uplandia: making better policy in complex upland systems., Defra and Natural England Report, 68pp.
- Appiah, B.; Roberts, M.; Irvine, K.N. (2021) Monitoring outcomes of Cumbernauld Living Landscape volunteer projects., Report to Cumbernauld Living Landscape.
- Roberts, M.; Gilligan, C.A.; Kleczkowski, A.; Hanley N.; Whalley, A.E.; Healey, J.R. (2020) The effect of forest management options on forest resilience to pathogens., Frontiers in Forests and Global Change, 3, Article No. 7.
- Irvine, K.N.; Msika, J.; Dinnie, E.; Craig, T.; Fischer, A.; Hague, A.; Rajagopalan, D.; Roberts, M.; Wilson, R. (2020) Climate change engagement: assessing the impacts of the Climate Challenge Fund., ClimateXChange Report, 164pp.
- Neilson, R.; Lilly, A.; Aitkenhead, M.; Artz, R.R.E.; Baggaley, N.; Giles, M.E.; Holland, J.; Loades, K.; Ovando Pol, P.; Rivington, M.; Roberts, M.; Yeluripati, J. (2020) Measuring the vulnerability of Scottish soils to a changing climate., ClimateXChange Report, 42pp.
- Roberts, M. (2020) How does climate change impact demand for natural capital: implications for Scotland., Report to RESAS, 8pp.
- Roberts, M.; McVittie, A.; Glenk, K.; Irvine, K.N. (2020) Natural Capital Accounts for Scotland: Urban greenspace accounts, Report, Natural Capital Accounts for Scotland
- 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.
- Roberts, M.; Byg, A.; Faccioli, M.; Novo, P.; Kyle, C. (2021) Stakeholder perceptions of public good provision from agriculture and implications for governance mechanism design., Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, 64, 289-307.
- Roberts, M.; Irvine, K.N.; McVittie, A. (2021) Associations between greenspace and mental health prescription rates in urban areas., Urban Forestry and Urban Greening. Published online.
- Roberts, M.; Gilligan, C.A.; Kleczkowski, A.; Hanley N.; Whalley, A.E.; Healey, J.R. (2020) The effect of forest management options on forest resilience to pathogens., Frontiers in Forests and Global Change, 3, Article No. 7.
- 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.
- Irvine, K.N.; Roberts, M.; Eastwood, A.; Colley, K.; Currie, M.; Zhang, Z. (2021) Environmental science and mental health review., Report via Valuing Nature Program.
- 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.
- Kuhfuss, L.; Attalla, L.; Begg, G.; Hawes, C.; Gimona, A.; Lozada-Ellison, L.; Martinat, S.; McKeen, M.; Pakeman, R.; Roberts, M.; Zuta, A. (2021) Exploring alternative agrienvironmental payment schemes for arable land in Scotland, Online report
- Stewart, G.B.; Glendell, M.; McMorran, R.; Troldborg, M.; Gagkas, Z.; Ovando, P.; Roberts, M.; Maynard, C.; Williams, A.; Clay, G.; Reed, M.S. (2021) Uplandia: making better policy in complex upland systems., Defra and Natural England Report, 68pp.
- Appiah, B.; Roberts, M.; Irvine, K.N. (2021) Monitoring outcomes of Cumbernauld Living Landscape volunteer projects., Report to Cumbernauld Living Landscape.
- Irvine, K.N.; Msika, J.; Dinnie, E.; Craig, T.; Fischer, A.; Hague, A.; Rajagopalan, D.; Roberts, M.; Wilson, R. (2020) Climate change engagement: assessing the impacts of the Climate Challenge Fund., ClimateXChange Report, 164pp.
- Neilson, R.; Lilly, A.; Aitkenhead, M.; Artz, R.R.E.; Baggaley, N.; Giles, M.E.; Holland, J.; Loades, K.; Ovando Pol, P.; Rivington, M.; Roberts, M.; Yeluripati, J. (2020) Measuring the vulnerability of Scottish soils to a changing climate., ClimateXChange Report, 42pp.
- Roberts, M. (2020) How does climate change impact demand for natural capital: implications for Scotland., Report to RESAS, 8pp.
- Roberts, M.; McVittie, A.; Glenk, K.; Irvine, K.N. (2020) Natural Capital Accounts for Scotland: Urban greenspace accounts, Report, Natural Capital Accounts for Scotland
- 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.
- Martino, S.; Roberts, M.; Wooldridge, T.; Ovando Pol, P.; Moulliot, F.; Pernice, U.; Ortega, M.; Velea, R.; Laterza, R.; Moreira, B. (2022) Developing an Integrated Capitals Approach to Understanding Wildfire Vulnerability. Preliminary Considerations from a Literature Review, IX INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON FOREST FIRE RESEARCH & 17th International Wildland Fire Safety Summit, 11 - 18 November 2022, Coimbra, Portugal