Details zur Publikation

Kategorie Textpublikation
Referenztyp Berichte
URL http://hdl.handle.net/10419/111177
Volltext Publikationsdokument
Titel (primär) Can monetary valuation undermine nature conservation? Evidence from a decision experiment
Autor Rode, J. ORCID logo ; Le Menestrel, M.; Cornelissen, G.
Quelle UFZ Discussion Papers
Erscheinungsjahr 2015
Department UPOL
Band/Volume 9/2015
Seite bis 15
Sprache deutsch
Keywords nature conservation; policy discourse; framing; monetary valuation; crowding out
UFZ Querschnittsthemen RU6;
Abstract Nature conservation scientists and practitioners have voiced the concern that a conservation discourse based on economic arguments and monetary valuation may undermine conservation efforts by eroding (“crowding out”) the influence of other arguments for nature conservation. This paper presents the results of a decision experiment in which nature conservation is framed using an economic, a non-economic, or a combined discourse before participants take hypothetical decisions on the construction of hydropower dams in the Bolivian Amazon. We find that an economic discourse with monetary valuation framing leads to significantly fewer pro-conservation decisions, that is, decisions against dam construction. This is the case when a cost-benefit analysis inclusive of environmental costs reveals that the dam is economically viable (i.e., there remains a trade-off between economics and conservation), but also when such a costs-benefit analysis indicates that the dam is not viable (i.e., no trade-off). The results suggest that an economic discourse with monetary valuation framing can indeed undermine nature conservation efforts. They also suggest that the effect can be avoided, however, by presenting non-economic arguments side by side with an economic rationale.
dauerhafte UFZ-Verlinkung https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=16288
Rode, J., Le Menestrel, M., Cornelissen, G. (2015):
Can monetary valuation undermine nature conservation? Evidence from a decision experiment
UFZ Discussion Papers 9/2015
Helmholtz-Zentrum für Umweltforschung - UFZ, Leipzig, 15 S.