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LIST OF FIGURES -- LIST OF TABLES -- PREFACE -- CHAPTER 1— BACKGROUND & OVERVIEW: Alaska’s Native Lands: Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act Lands: Regional Corporations, Village Corporations, Additional ANCSA Land Entitlements, Former Native Reserve Lands; Other Native Lands: Native Allotments, Annette Island Reservation; Native Land Status; Alaskan Forests; What is a Forest Inventory?; Forest Inventories in Alaska; Forest Inventories on Native Land -- CHAPTER 2 — DETERMINING THE NEED FOR AN INVENTORY: Existing Forest Inventory Information; Agency Inventories: Forest Service Inventories, Bureau of Indian Affairs Inventories, Tanana Chiefs Conference Inventories; Level of Inventory -- CHAPTER 3 — INVENTORY PLANNING: Gathering Information; Planning Considerations: Why is This Inventory Needed?, Where will the Inventory Take Place?, What needs to be Inventoried and What Information is to be Collected?, Who is Going to do the Inventory?, When will the Inventory Take Place?, How is the Inventory going to be Done and How will the Data be Processed?, How Much is the Inventory going to Cost?, Unique Alaskan Constraints: Transportation Logistics, Adverse Weather, Musket, Dangerous Wildlife, Vegetation Barriers, Availability of Supplies and Fuel; Advantages of Planning -- CHAPTER 4 — HOW FOREST INVENTORIES ARE CONDUCTED: Maps and Aerial Photographs: Using Aerial Photographs in Forest Inventories, Using Aerial Photographs for Timber Typing; Statistical Considerations of a Forest Inventory: Variability of the Sample, Number of Samples, Sampling Design; Field Measurements: Tree Height, Tree Diameter and Taper, Tree Defects, Tree Age and Growth, Site Conditions, Forestry Equipment -- CHAPTER 5 — AFTER THE FIELD WORK IS DONE: Compilation of Data; When the Inventory is Complete; Looking Toward the Future -- BIBLIOGRAPHY -- APPENDIX I - ALASKA’S PRINCIPAL TREE SPECIES -- APPENDIX II — USES OF ALASKA'S PRINCIPAL TREE SPECIES -- APPENDIX III — FORESTY CONSULTANTS IN ALASKA -- APPENDIX IV — TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE DIRECTORY -- APPENDIX V — SAMPLE OUTLINE FOR DEVELOPING A FOREST INVENTORY PLAN -- APPENDIX VI — USGS OFFICES IN ALASKA -- APPENDIX VII — NATURAL RESOURCES SCHOOLS IN ALASK

AN EXAMINATION OF A DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS PURCHASE PROGRAM FOR ALASKA AGRICULTURAL LANDS

A report submitted to the Department of Natural Resources, State of Alaska, in accordance with terms of research contract OCTO 1142.Many Alaskans are concerned about the conversion of highly productive agricultural lands to nonagricultural uses now occurring in the state. Land on the urban fringes of Anchorage and Fairbanks that once produced vegetables and grains or supported dairy farms appears most vulnerable to this conversion. As major population centers grow, residential, shopping center and industrial land uses displace agriculture because they render greater returns. This displacement is viewed by some as not being in society's best interest. Those concerned about the loss of agricultural lands argue that these lands are some of the best agricultural lands in the state and are vital to maintaining the agricultural economy of the state. In addition, it is suggested that their preservation will help to maintain a much desired way of life and to provide needed open space. The state and municipal governments in Alaska have made attempts to intervene in the land market to slow down or stop agricultural land conversion. Methods employed to date include tax incentives and the sale of only the agricultural rights on state or municipal lands. This report discusses the feasibility of an alternative means of preserving agricultural lands, namely, the public purchase of development rights from private landowners. Under this voluntary arrangement, private agricultural landowners would be compensated for giving up their option to develop their land for nonagricultural purposes.Introduction: Overview, Plan of Report -- Market Failure and the Allocation of Agricultural Land Resources -- Agricultural Land Conversion in Alaska -- Present and Potential Agricultural Development in Alaska: Introduction, Present Agricultural Situation, Agricultural Lands for Future Development, Future Agricultural Development in Alaska -- Purchase of Development Rights: Suffolk County: History, Maryland, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Connecticut, Definition of Development Rights, Strengths and Weaknesses of Development Rights Purchases -- Applicability of a Development Rights Program in Alaska: Introduction, Development Rights Survey in Alaska: Response, Farm Size of Respondents, Interest in Selling Development Rights, Market Values of Cleared and Uncleared Agricultural Lands, Value of Development Rights, Distance from a Population Center, Interest in Selling Development Rights, and Perceived Value of Development Rights -- Economic Size Agricultural Operations -- Potential Costs of a Purchase of Development Rights Program: Other Costs -- Benefits of Development Rights Acquisition: Maintenance of the Local Agricultural Economy, Locally Produced Food, Open Space and Other Public Good Amenities, Removal of Uncertainty -- Other Agricultural Land Control Tools: Comparison of Agricultural Land Preservation Tools -- Summary and Conclusions -- References -- Appendix A: Operation of of Purchase of Development Rights Programs -- Appendix B: Alaska Agricultural Lands Survey -- Appendix C: Additional Comments from Respondents -- Appendix D: Alternative Agricultural Land Control Technique

Stochastic Dominance Analysis of iShares

Country indices as represented by iShares exhibit non-normal return distributions with both skewness and kurtosis. Davidson and Duclos (2000) and Memmel (2003) provide procedures for determining the statistical significance of stochastic dominance measures and the Sharpe Ratio, respectively. This study uses these refinements to compare the performance of 18 country market indices. The iShares are indistinguishable when using the Sharpe Ratio as no significant differences are found. In contrast, stochastic dominance procedures identify dominant iShares. Although the results vary over time, stochastic dominance appears to be both more robust and discriminating than the CAPM in the ranking of the iShares.Stochastic dominance; Sharpe ratio; skewness; country index funds

Forecasting Excessive Rainfall and Low-Cloud Bases East of the Northern Andes and Mesoscale Convective Complex Movement in Central South America

This research produces better forecast tools for SOUTHCOM\u27s 25th Operational Weather Squadron (OWS) over multiple areas of operation in South America. Heavy rainfall and low-cloud base events along the northeastern Andes foothills are examined, as well as, mesoscale convective complexes (MCCs) in Central South America (CSA). Low clouds, fog, and flooding rains hamper daily Department of Defense (DoD) counter-drug operations in Northwestern South America (NWSA). In addition, fierce MCCs interfere with joint-military exercises in CSA

Mutual fund redemptions: Liquidity preferences in fund asset sales

This study investigates whether mutual funds that experience redemptions preferentially sell their more-liquid stocks. Investors that remain in such funds may inherit portfolios of less-liquid stocks, with an associated transfer of wealth to redeemers. Using 626 mutual fund-periods between 1995 and 1999 we observe that funds do indeed have a systematic preference for selling their more-liquid stocks when they experience redemptions. Our findings question the efficacy of a buy-and-hold strategy where investors could be disadvantaged by managers preferentially selling their more-liquid assets

The influence of green practices and green image on customer satisfaction and word-of-mouth in the hospitality industry

Frame of the research: As sustainability aware consumers represent a substantial market segment, green practices and green positioning are becoming strategic to enhance competitive advantage. Purpose of the paper: This study investigates whether the presence of green practices or a green image in the accommodation sector influences customer satisfaction and eWOM and whether this differs between different accommodation categories. Methodology: The TripAdvisor reviews of 1701 Italian hospitality business were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: Accommodation facilities with green practices present high scores in guest satisfaction and eWOM, particularly those with a green image. The differences in customer satisfaction between accommodation types is smaller for businesses with a green image. B&Bs, agritourism facilities, and other accommodation facilities, even those without a green image, can rely on green practices to increase customer satisfaction and eWOM. Research limitations: We considered the use of green features in the name of the accommodation facility as a proxy for sustainability alignment. Customer satisfaction could be affected by other variables. The sub-sample of “green name” companies is limited. The size and age of the accommodation facility could impact the number of reviews. Practical implications: Our results provide valuable insights into the determinants of customer satisfaction and intention to review a green practice and suggest the need to communicate a green orientation. Originality of the study: Our study extends the investigation to different accommodation types; considers the green image of the accommodation facilities rather than green certification; compares customer satisfaction and eWOM with or without a green image by accommodation type

Broker Recommendations and Mutual Fund Trades

We investigate the alignment of mutual fund trades with brokers’ recommendations and their associated performance. Using 2,730 funds with 44,315 fund-periods between 1994 and 2005, we find that more than 20% of funds adjust their portfolios in line with brokers’ recommendations. However, funds that trade counter to these recommendations, on average, earn superior excess returns. This superior performance is most pronounced in small funds holding less-liquid stocks that trade more actively, and we attribute this to their private information having greater incremental value