Kevin McIntyre speaks with Dr. Margaret A. Walls, an economist and a senior fellow at Resources for the Future and a specialist in conservation and ecosystem services. Her research is rooted in finding cost-effective remedies and building resilience in the aftermath of natural disasters like floods and wildfires. She explains the meaning behind ecosystem services and the specific societal values we get from nature, such as how forests naturally reduce flooding and how responsibly managed forests leads to better water quality. Dr. Walls also explains payment for watershed services and how providing landowner incentives and creating a market is a win-win situation for everyone for both water consumers and landowners alike. Produced by Lee Schneider. Music by Chuck Leavell.

How the River Flows highlights how our region’s communities are banding together to conserve the 245 million acres of existing forests. Each episode will take a close look at the relationship between healthy forests and clean drinking water. We talk to the experts on the ground who share their best ideas for conserving local forests to ensure a lasting, clean supply of drinking water for future generations. Included in these discussions will be issues surrounding taxes and compensation, infrastructure, and voter initiatives. You’ll learn how these innovations are financed, managed and how your local community can join the effort in protecting our precious southern forests and the many benefits that they provide.

Music by Chuck Levell. Produced by Red Cup Agency. Executive Producer: Judy A. Takats.

Links and Resources:

Keeping Forests

Margaret A. Walls

An abstract for Dr. Walls' paper, Evaluating Payments for Watershed Services Programs in the United States

Read on ResearchGate