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Human Dimensions of Ecosystem Management
Department of Ecosystem Science and Management
Room 302 Animal Industries Building
Texas A&M University
College Station, TX 77845
Phone: (979) 845-5583
Fax: (979) 845-6430
Email: urs@tamu.edu
Urs Kreuter is an Associate Professor in the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management at Texas A&M University. His area of specialization is the Human Dimensions of Ecosystem Management. He received his BS (1982) and MS (1985) in Agriculture from the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, and his MA in Economics (1989) and Ph.D. in Range Science (1992) from Utah State University, USA. His Ph.D. research focused on the “Comparative economics of cattle and wildlife production systems in the Midlands of Zimbabwe.” Before coming to the USA, Dr. Kreuter worked as a Research Scientist in the South African Department of Agriculture (1983-1984), and as a Lecturer and Research Assistant at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (1984-1985). Following the completion of his Ph.D., Dr Kreuter was a post-doctoral fellow at Texas A&M University Department (1993-1994), before entering the commercial sector for three years (1994-1997). Dr. Kreuter became a faculty member in the Department of Rangeland Ecology and Management (now Ecosystem Science and Management) at Texas A&M University in January 1998. He was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure in September 2004.
Dr. Kreuter currently teaches three undergraduate courses including Study Abroad in South Africa (RENR 400) and Ecosystem Management (RENR 410). He also co-teaches with Richard Conner a graduate level course in Ecological Economics (RENR 689).
Dr. Kreuter's directs a research program focusing on the Human Dimensions of Rangeland Ecosystem Management. His research is driven by his multidisciplinary interests in ecological economics, rural sociology and environmental psychology and aims to develop theory regarding integrated ecosystem management. Research projects that he directs are conducted at individual property, community and ecosystem scales. Some issues that Dr. Kreuter’s research program have addressed include the effects of shifting social values and human demographics on rangeland management; the effectiveness of incentive programs aimed at improving rangeland health, wildlife habitat and water quality on private lands; the effects of landowner perceptions regarding property rights on ecosystem management; and factors influencing the use of fire as a rangeland management tool. Dr Kreuter's research aims to inform policy aimed at creating positive incentives for the sustainable use and management of terrestrial ecosystems under a broad range of land tenure systems.