Home >

Research Programs

Sustainable Resource Management Program

Managing resources effectively requires a delicate balance between addressing the needs of people with the needs of the environment. Historically, human development in many parts of the world has led to the rapid depletion of non-renewable resources. Even renewable resources, such as forests and fish stocks, have been harvested at rates that drive resource populations below what is commercially or ecologically viable. The cascading effects of resource use on ecosystems can also be dramatic, resulting in the collapse of entire communities – human and otherwise.

With ever increasing human populations, knowing what constitutes sustainable use for specific resources and environments will lead to more effective conservation and management. In addition, the development of alternative methods of resource utilization and production can help meet the needs of society. In the last few decades, the use of renewable energy has been promoted to offset the impacts of fossil fuel use. Novel methods of food production are emerging that capitalize on waste streams as a way to further benefit the environment and people.

The goal of the CEI Sustainable Resource Management Program is to develop novel approaches to balancing the needs of the environment with the needs of people. With this in mind, our projects focus on the development and feasibility testing of alternative methods of food and energy production. We are working to develop model systems that can be employed at multiple scales in order to relieve pressure from the natural environment while allowing local, regional, and global communities to prosper.