A hybrid optimization-agent-based model of REDD plus payments to households on an old deforestation frontier in the Brazilian Amazon
Authored by Thales A P West, Kelly A Grogan, Marilyn E Swisher, Jill L Caviglia-Harris, Erin Sills, Daniel Harris, Dar Roberts, Francis E Putz
Date Published: 2018
DOI: 10.1016/j.envsoft.2017.11.007
Sponsors:
Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq)
United States National Science Foundation (NSF)
Platforms:
NetLogo
Model Documentation:
ODD
Mathematical description
Model Code URLs:
Model code not found
Abstract
REDD+ was initially conceived of as a multi-level carbon-based payment
for environmental services (PES). It is still often assumed to be a
cost-effective climate change mitigation strategy, but this assumption
is mostly based on theoretical studies and static opportunity cost
calculations. We used spatial and socioeconomic datasets from an
Amazonian deforestation frontier in Brazil to construct a simulation
model of REDD + payments to households that can be used to assess REDD +
interventions. Our SimREDD + model consists of dynamic optimization and
land-use/cover change allocation sub-models built into an agent-based
model platform. The model assumes that households maximize profit under
perfect market conditions and calculates the optimal household
land-use/cover configuration at equilibrium under a given REDD + PES
scenario. These scenarios include PES based on (1) forest area and (2)
carbon stocks. Insights gained from simulations under different
conditions can assist in the design of more effective, efficient, and
equitable REDD + programs. (c) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Tags
Agent-based modeling
Dynamics
REDD
Decision-Making
Payments for environmental services
optimal control
Land-use/cover change
land-cover change
tropical deforestation
Coupled human
Natural systems
Carbon emissions
Farm household
Avoided
deforestation
Forest
conservation
Proximate causes