About

The Nature Economy Collaborative is an interdisciplinary working group, led by the University of New Hampshire, that aims to foster dialogue with stakeholders and conduct research to document changes to New Hampshire's economy as it relates to the use and value of nature. Specifically, we are looking to understand nature economy-related data needs to inform policy around four themes: education, training and workforce development, community development and quality of life, natural asset use and climate resilience.

Motivation

Access to the natural environment is a critical element of the economic, social, and ecological resilience of communities. New Hampshire’s natural resources provide a high quality of life to residents and are one of the State’s greatest advantages for workforce attraction, youth retention, recreation, climate resilience, tourism, and broader economic development. During the pandemic, visitors and new residents looking for more access to nature and a less crowded lifestyle have sought out New Hampshire. At the same time, the state is experiencing soaring home values and limited affordable housing, increasing climate impacts, ongoing workforce needs, and conflicts over how to manage growth and changing uses of natural resources.