The supposition that human beings are “rational” actors who conduct a logical analysis of a situation, and make choices based on this analysis, is one of the fundamental underpinnings of economics. Yet, new research on the brain and human behavior is showing that this may not be true for most people. We now face a bewildering array of choices, experiencing information overload and a shortened decision making period. This new brain science has given rise to the popularization of an obscure branch of the “dismal science” (economics) called behavioral economics.

Greenway’s Kirk Cohune interviews Humboldt County Community Development Specialist in Affordable Housing and Brownfields, Andrew Whitney, about economic development benefits of environmental restoration. Andrew has conducted an inventory of brownfields sites in Humboldt County; he is a local expert on issues surrounding legacy pollution, site remediation and restoration, and site reuse. The discussion includes brownfields cleanup limitations and incentives, as well as tie-ins with the General Plan Update, infill development, agriculture and forest land preservation, and urban redevelopment.

EcoNews Report January 19, 2012

In the past week, Greenway has been engaged in work that reminds us of the power of nature to reclaim an area from human use.

This year’s Plan it Green Business Luncheon series, hosted by Executive Director and Greenway Principal Steve Salzman, culminated in a discussion about climate change adaptation statewide and around Humboldt Bay. The focus around Humboldt Bay is on the predicted rise of our oceans and what that change might mean to our vulnerable infrastructure (such as our wastewater treatment facilities and many stretches of our coastal roadway system, including Highway 101). While, as a society, we make fitful attempts to deal with the issues arising from climate change, the sea level rise is expected to impact coastal communities over the coming decades.

Greenway’s David Narum and Kirk Cohune interview regional development enthusiast Kathy Moxon, currently the director of both Redwood Coast Rural Action and Redwood Forest Foundation, about the innovative economic development potential of forestry waste products. In particular, she describes ways to add value to woody biomass debris–waste material from logging activities or removed for forest thinning and health efforts, which otherwise costs money to remove from the forests. One option presented is the production of a marketable and versatile product called bio-char. Small-scale production trials in Mendocino have proven economically viable and offer local entrepreneurs opportunities for business development.

EcoNews Report December 15, 2011

Ever sit through a decision-making process involving more than one person and find diverging interests or priorities? What to eat for dinner, how to implement an economic development strategy, or whether to create a bike lane or a multi-use path along a new corridor… Most decisions require some level of discussion, negotiation, or mediation in order to reach and successfully implement. Even authoritative decisions benefit from engaging stakeholders – educating end-users and developing buy-in for new directives can keep morale up and help to avoid costly enforcement measures.

“We all agree your theory is crazy, but is it crazy enough to have a chance of being correct?”–Niels Bohr, physicist, during a brainstorming session.

On November 5, 2011, Greenway principal David Narum facilitated a “Crazy Idea Day” workshop at the new Link Entrepreneurship Center. The workshop was attended by 45 people from ages 8 to 80. Attendees learned about ways to solve problems and develop innovative solutions by using “lateral thinking” and other nonlinear thinking methods (for good examples, see Jason Theodor’s site). The results of the day were very creative ideas for solving a range of local social and environmental problems, from vandalism to resource waste.