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Alton Thompson
Current Research
Project Title:
"Natural Resources Management Needs Assessment to Facilitate
Ecotourism the Blue Mountains/John Crow Mountain National Park in Jamaica, West Indies:
Preliminary Analysis of Biological and Social Impacts,"
Project Summary:
The objectives of this project is threefold: (1) to determine the
biophysical characteristics of the sites in the Blue and John Crow Mountains (B&JCM)
National Park and their ability to withstand degradation from nature tourism activities;
(2) determine the potential demand for ecotourism in the B&JCM National Park and the
components of that demand and how the Jamaican market can attract visitors to existing and
proposed parks; and (3) evaluate the benefits to citizens and individuals near the
B&JCM National Park and determine how local inputs and strategies can be incorporated
into institutional plans and management for the reserves.
Funding and Cooperating Agency:
US Forest Service, Southern Research Station, Research Triangle
Park, NC
Researchers:
- Dr. Charles A. Panton
- Dr. Godfrey A. Gayle, Dept. Of Natural Resources and Environmental
Design
- Dr. Alton Thompson, Dept. Of Agricultural Education, Economics and
Rural Sociology
- Dr. Charles Raczkowski, Dept. Of Natural Resources and
Environmental Design
- Dr. Evan Mercer, USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station
Project Title:
"Food Safety and Healthy Food Choices: Perceptions and
Purchase Behavior of Persons in Black Belt States@
Project Summary:
The Black Belt Region in the U.S. refers to the social and
demographic crescent of 623 southern counties that contain a higher than average
percentages of African American residents. These counties are highly contiguous and form a
belt-like pattern across parts of 11 states (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia,
Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia).
For historical reasons, these counties are largely characterized by rural decline,
inadequate education programs and acute problems of poverty, poor health, substandard
housing and underemployment. The specific objectives of this study are: (1) to determine
the food safety attitudes, awareness and knowledge of persons in the Black Belt; (2) to
determine how the knowledge and concerns of participants in food assistance programs is
related to their purchase behavior; and (3) to determine the extent to which demographic
and socioeconomic characteristics are related to reported food safety and healthy food
choices behavior.
Funding Agency:
USDA, Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service
Researchers:
- Dr. Kofi Adu-Nyako
- Dr. Alton Thompson
Project Title:
Strengthening the Extension Partnership Between the 1862 and 1890
Institutions and the Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service
Project Summary:
The purpose of this study is to strengthen the longstanding
partnership between the 1862 and 1890 land grant institutions and CSREES through a candid
examination of the partnership. The assessment covers all 16 states with 1890 land grant
institutions. The scope of the project is limited to relationships among federal, state,
and local extension staff. While the partnership between CSREES and land-grant
institutions encompasses three distinct functions--research, academic instruction and
extension education--this project examines only the extension component, to restrict its
size and complexity. The study objectives are: (1) produce a comprehensive empirical
description of the partnership; (2) describe the ideal vision of the partnership; and (3)
analyze the gap difference between the real/perceived partnership and the ideal
partnership.
Funding and Cooperating Agency:
USDA, Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service
Researchers:
- Dr. Daniel Godfrey, School of Agriculture
- Dr. M. Ray McKinnie, Cooperative Extension Program
- Dr. Alton Thompson, Dept. Of Agricultural Education, Economics and
Rural Sociology
- Dr. Thelma Feaster, Cooperative Extension Program
- Ms. Sheilda Sutton, Cooperative Extension Program
- Dr. John Michael, Cooperative State Research, Education, and
Extension Service
- Ms. Genevieve Lucas, Cooperative State Research, Education, and
Extension Service
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