The Netherlands and the neighborhood of Meadowbrook in Seattle, Washington are increasingly being threatened by flooding as climate change is causing record-breaking floods to become the new normal. In response to this phenomenon, these communities are adopting nature-based flood adaptation measures, an approach to managing floods which works by utilizing natural flood preventions such as wetlands, coral reefs, and urban green spaces. For my research I focused on the similarities and dissimilarities of nature-based flood adaptation approaches in the Netherlands and in the Meadowbrook neighborhood. More specifically I examined the physical types of nature-based flood adaptations put into place and the policies surrounding their implementation. I found both areas employed similar physical adaptations, mainly the expansion of natural wetlands in riverine environments. As a result, both areas experienced immense success with the effectiveness of the adaptations as riverine flooding greatly decreased. As for flood policies, the results I found greatly differed. The Netherlands have pioneered a mind-set that focuses on living with the water, rather than struggling to defeat it. This has allowed the Dutch to look beyond “gray” infrastructure flood control and embrace adaptations that provide more resilience and sustainability, such as nature-based flood adaptations. Meanwhile, the adaptations within Meadowbrook are not indicative of the U.S. as a whole, as a heavy reliance on “gray” infrastructure and a denial of flooding problems prevails. These results help substantiate the efficacy of nature-based flood adaptations and points to an inadequacy within the way the U.S. approaches flooding issues.

The engineered wood product Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) is a promising alternative to steel and concrete construction in multi-story buildings, and it is beginning to be implemented far from its birthplace in Austria. Advantages of CLT like quick installation, resistance to earthquakes, and strong insulating properties have led Japan to import it, as well as open their own CLT production lines. Our research explores the properties of CLT, trends in the trade flows of CLT and the major component of it (softwood lumber), and the positive and negative environmental impacts of manufacturing and using CLT. We reviewed studies on CLT manufacturers, life cycle assessments from various sources, and our own analysis of trade data from 2010 to 2019. Information on how and why Japan might use EU-produced CLT is limited, but we did find that the EU exports to Japan because they have the largest manufacturers and until Japanese production increases, trade is economically advantageous--for both softwood lumber and CLT. The environmental impact of EU-manufactured CLT is greater than domestically-produced CLT; though it has a higher price per panel with shipping cost included, Japanese CLT has 40% less global warming potential than CLT manufactured in Austria and shipped to Japan. This all points to the conclusion that to gain the advantages of CLT construction efficiency and carbon storage, domestic manufacture must expand in Japan.

For many inhabitants of the Pacific Northwest (PNW), access and use of the multitude of public lands in and around the area is a core piece of their experience that shapes their relationships with nature. There are countless studies that have shown the health benefits of interactions with nature. Despite these benefits, data collected by many of the Federal land use agencies show that, people of color, especially Black people, are underrepresented in these spaces. Additionally, no study has yet been done for the East African immigrant communities, despite its large size including over 40,000 residents in King County alone (6th most in the nation). The objective of this study is to remedy this gap in knowledge which currently exists in our understanding of public land accessibility and utilization in the PNW by East African immigrants. My project entails developing culturally appropriate survey questionnaires, recruitment of community members, and administration of a survey, focus groups, and individual interviews. From these activities, I will explore the perceptions and accessibility of public lands from an intergenerational focus. The outcome will be the generation of rich qualitative data that will be used to identify common opportunities and barriers to accessing public lands by East African communities. In addition, the study will lay the groundwork for future larger scale studies on this topic and help inform current and future land management efforts to make public lands more equitable.