Urs Kreuter is a Professor in the Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology at Texas A&M University. His area of specialization is the Human Dimensions of Ecosystem Management. He received his BS (1982) and MS (1985) in Agriculture from the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, and his MA in Economics (1989) and Ph.D. in Range Science (1992) from Utah State University, USA. Before coming to the USA, Dr. Kreuter worked as a Research Scientist in the South African Department of Agriculture (1983-1984), and as a Lecturer and Research Assistant at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (1984-1985). Following the completion of his Ph.D., Dr Kreuter was a post-doctoral fellow at Texas A&M University Department (1993-1994), before entering the commercial sector for three years (1994-1997). Dr. Kreuter became a faculty member in the Department of Rangeland Ecology and Management (now Ecosystem Science and Management) at Texas A&M University in January 1998. He was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure in September 2004 and Professor in September 2010.
Dr. Kreuter currently teaches two undergraduate courses including Study Abroad in South Africa (RENR 400) and Ecosystem Management (RENR 410). He also co-teaches with Richard Conner a graduate level course in Ecological Economics (ESSM 671).
Dr. Kreuter’s directs a research program focusing on the Human Dimensions of Rangeland Ecosystem Management. His research is driven by his multidisciplinary interests in ecological economics, rural sociology and environmental psychology and aims to develop theory regarding integrated ecosystem management. Research projects that he directs are conducted at individual property, community and ecosystem scales. Some issues that Dr. Kreuter’s research program have addressed include the effects of shifting social values and human demographics on rangeland management; the effectiveness of incentive programs aimed at improving rangeland health, wildlife habitat and water quality on private lands; the effects of landowner perceptions regarding property rights on ecosystem management; and factors influencing the use of fire as a rangeland management tool. Dr Kreuter’s research aims to inform policy aimed at creating positive incentives for the sustainable use and management of terrestrial ecosystems under a broad range of land tenure systems.