Biodiversity and economic incentives in agriculture : integrating bird fauna values into decision-making

Our optimal control model identifies economic reasons as to why several farmland bird populations have dramatically declined in modern agricultural landscapes. By integrating bird fauna values into decision-making on cereal crop choice, herbicide use and hunting bag size, we derive those economic instruments needed for enhancing biodiversity on farmland and reversing the decline of grey partridge (Perdix perdix) populations. Based on the Finnish data available, we illustrate how the optimal acreage subsidy for organically-grown rye areas, the herbicide tax rate and the grey partridge hunting licence fee could be estimated in monetary terms. The procedure to derive and value the first-best policy instruments is applicable for various components of agri-environmental schemes implemented throughout the European Union

Modelling environmental effects of agriculture : the case of organic rye and grey partridge

Our optimal control model identifies economic reasons as to why farmland bird populations have dramatically declined in modern agricultural landscapes. By integrating recreational wildlife values into farm level decision-making on arable crop choice and herbicide use, we derive those economic instruments needed for creating suitable conditions for game bird species on farmland. Based on the Finnish data available on the grey partridge (Perdix perdix), we illustrate how the optimal acreage subsidy for organically-grown areas, herbicide tax rates and the hunting licence fee could be estimated in monetary terms. Finally, we discuss the benefits and costs of cultivating organic cereals which will enhance preservation of the grey partridge

Modelling Environmental Effects of Agriculture: The Case of Organic Rye and Grey Partridge

Our optimal control model identifies economic reasons as to why farmland bird populations have dramatically declined in modern agricultural landscapes. By integrating recreational wildlife values into farm level decision-making on arable crop choice and herbicide use, we derive those economic instruments needed for creating suitable conditions for game bird species on farmland. Based on the Finnish data available on the grey partridge (Perdix perdix), we illustrate how the optimal acreage subsidy for organically-grown areas, herbicide tax rates and the hunting licence fee could be estimated in monetary terms. Finally, we discuss the benefits and costs of cultivating organic cereals which will enhance preservation of the grey partridge.environmental benefits, grey partridge, herbicides, optimal control, rye, Environmental Economics and Policy, Q57, Q18, H41,

Modelling farmer’s crop choice with production externalities. The case of cultivation of rye in Finland

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An integrated simulation model to evaluate national policies for the abatement of agricultural nutrients in the Baltic Sea

This study introduces a prototype model for evaluating policies to abate agricultural nutrients in the Baltic Sea from a Finnish national point of view. The stochastic simulation model integrates nutrient dynamics of nitrogen and phosphorus in the sea basins adjoining the Finnish coast, nutrient loads from land and other sources, benefits from nutrient abatement (in the form of recreation and other ecosystem services) and the costs of agricultural abatement activities. The aim of this study is to present the overall structure of the model and to demonstrate its potential using preliminary parameters

An integrated simulation model to evaluate national policies for the abatement of agricultural nutrients in the Baltic Sea

This study introduces a prototype model for evaluating policies to abate agricultural nutrients in the Baltic Sea from a Finnish national point of view. The stochastic simulation model integrates nutrient dynamics of nitrogen and phosphorus in the sea basins adjoining the Finnish coast, nutrient loads from land and other sources, benefits from nutrient abatement (in the form of recreation and other ecosystem services) and the costs of agricultural abatement activities. The aim of this study is to present the overall structure of the model and to demonstrate its potential using preliminary parameters. The model is made flexible for further improvements in all of its ecological and economic components. Results of a sensitivity analysis suggest that investments in reducing the nutrient runoff from arable land in Finland would become profitable only if Finland’s neighbors in the northern Baltic committed themselves to similar reductions. Environmental investments for improving water quality yield the highest returns for the Bothnian Bay and the Gulf of Finland, and smaller returns for the Bothnian Sea. In the Bothnian Bay, the abatement activities become profitable because the riverine loads from Finland represent a high proportion of the total nutrient loads. In the Gulf of Finland, this proportion is low, but the size of the coastal population benefiting from improved water quality is high.ecosystem services, nutrient abatement, Monte Carlo simulation, recreation, valuation, Environmental Economics and Policy, Research Methods/ Statistical Methods,

How far are vowel formants from computed vocal tract resonances?

13 pages, 1 figure, 3 tablesWe compare numerically computed resonances of the human vocal tract with formants that have been extracted from speech during vowel pronunciation. The geometry of the vocal tract has been obtained by MRI from a male subject, and the corresponding speech has been recorded simultaneously. The resonances are computed by solving the Helmholtz partial differential equation with the Finite Element Method (FEM). Despite a rudimentary exterior space acoustics model, i.e., the Dirichlet boundary condition at the mouth opening, the computed resonance structure differs from the measured formant structure by $\approx$ 0.7 semitones for [i] and [u] having small mouth opening area, and by $\approx$ 3 semitones for vowels [a] and [ae] that have a larger mouth opening. The contribution of the possibly open velar port has not been taken into considaration at all which adds the discrepancy for [a] in the present data set. We conclude that by improving the exterior space model and properly treating the velar port opening, it is possible to computationally attain four lowest vowel formants with an error less than a semitone. The corresponding wave equation model on MRI-produced vocal tract geometries is expected to have a comparabale accuracy.Non peer reviewe

PREVIOUS MILITARY PILOTS AND THEIR LATER FATAL CIVIL AVIATION ACCIDENTS

Military pilots undergo rigorous selection compared with civilian professional pilots because of different operational requirements. There are no studies of military pilots' subsequent civil aviation careers and fatal pilot aviation accidents. This study focuses on Vietnam War (VW) pilots and subsequent fatal aviation accidents in the U.S from 1965 to 2018. In total nine aviation accidents met the inclusion criteria and are described in detail, including the pilots' previous civil aviation incidents. The VW pilots were healthy, had valid Medicals and continued to fly in demanding pilot positions after their military careers. Although the data are limited, this study suggests that previous military pilots may differ slightly from other pilots in their subsequent civil aviation careers.Peer reviewe