For his work exploring the nexus of environmental, social and economic factors and health-related outcomes in South Asian countries, UF/IFAS Food and Resource Economics assistant professor Dr. James Xinde Ji has recently been announced as a 2024-25 Global Fellow of the UF International Center.
“The Program’s emphasis on fostering interdisciplinary research and global partnerships aligns with my commitment to comprehensively addressing the complex dynamics of environmental change and its impact on vulnerable populations,” Ji said. “The opportunity to join a community of scholars dedicated to global engagement aligns seamlessly with my research agenda and long-term goals of addressing these challenges in international contexts.”’
With the funding from this fellowship, Ji plans to carry out a new project on the socio-economic and health impacts of mangrove deforestation on coastal communities in Indonesia, with a particular emphasis on vulnerable groups such as children and the elderly.
The project will be one of the first studies to look at the health and social impacts of mangrove ecosystems and builds upon his previous work released just this last year in the Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, which explored the effects of exposure to climate change induced high ocean salinity levels during pregnancy on malnutrition in early childhood in Bangladesh.
Mangrove forests are intertidal wetlands commonly found in coastal regions of countries such as Indonesia, Vietnam, Brazil, and the Southeastern U.S. As a keystone species, mangrove ecosystems provide essential ecosystem services to nature and human society alike.
Indonesia has the largest mangrove population in the world, with about 23,000 square kilometers of mangrove tree cover. Deforestation of mangrove forests has become increasingly intensified over the past 20 years due to conversion to palm plantations, farmland, and urban development, putting these ecosystems at risk. While this is where Ji plans to start his research, the results will have implications for coastal communities worldwide.
“Mangrove forests are critical for coastal communities, providing numerous ecosystem services, including buffering flood and storm surges, supporting fisheries, and preserving biodiversity, Ji said. “With rising sea levels, degradation of these ecosystems presents significant risks not only to the environment but also to communities whose livelihoods depend on the ecosystem services provided by mangroves.”
As he carries out this research, he will be advised by mentor and FRE associate professor Dr. Conner Mullally.
“Dr. Mullally is a prolific development economist who has a record conducting high-quality studies in multiple international contexts,” Ji said. “It’s very lucky to have him as a mentor, and I look forward to learning from him.”
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