Lisa A. Wainger has over 20 years of experience developing integrated ecological and economic analysis tools that are used to communicate changes in ecological conditions in terms of socio-economic impacts. Dr. Wainger received her PhD from the University of Maryland, College Park in an interdisciplinary program in which she combined landscape ecology and environmental economics. She is currently a Research Associate Professor at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science in spatial environmental economics. She works nationally and internationally to develop and apply economically-based risk assessment tools relevant to wetland mitigation policy design, invasive species management, and restoration targeting.
Recent research has focused on developing models and indicator systems to characterize the cost-effectiveness of environmental restoration in terms of location-specific changes in ecosystem services. Decision-support tools she has developed through the use of GIS-based spatial data analyses, statistical models, and computer simulation models have been applied to 1) prioritize restoration of wildlands invaded with non-native invasive species, 2) evaluate the effectiveness of practices used in nutrient and wetland trading systems, and 3) evaluate links between changes in ecosystem services and quality of life, including risks to health, recreational opportunities, and regional economic vitality.