Improving Land Change Models for Climate Adaptation, Urban Development, and Conservation Action Across the US Caribbean
This page was edited by SE CASC staff to comply with UNC System and federal guidance; some original language was modified on January 12, 2026.
Project Information
Principal Investigator: Georgina M. Sanchez (Center for Geospatial Analytics, North Carolina State University)
Project Start: August 2024
Proposed Project Completion: July 2027
Implements Science Plan Theme: Impacts
Co-Investigators:
Christoph Nolte (Boston University)
Anna Petrasova (North Carolina State University)
Alejandro Torres-Abreu (University of Puerto Rico- Humacao)
Legna Torres-Garcia (USGS)
Manuel Valdes-Pizzini (University of Puerto Rico- Mayagüez)
Jelena Vukomanovic (North Carolina State University)
Cooperator/Partner(s):
Ross Meentemeyer (North Carolina State University)
Adam Terando (USGS)
Gregory Guannel (University of the Virgin Islands)
Aranzazu Lascurain (NOAA)
Rua Mordecai (U.S. FWS)
Overview:
Climate and economic stressors are causing large numbers of people to emigrate from Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, even while new development continues.
To provide a tool to help managers and policymakers make informed decisions about development and conservation, researchers for this Southeast CASC-supported project will co-produce a land change model that can simulate future scenarios of development, population change, and conservation in response to climate hazards.