Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.5751/ES-05716-190109
Title (Primary) Exploring the contribution of fiscal transfers to protected area policy
Author Borie, M.; Mathevet, R.; Letourneau, A.; Ring, I.; Thompson, J.D.; Marty, P.
Source Titel Ecology and Society
Year 2014
Department OEKON
Volume 19
Issue 1
Page From art. 9
Language englisch
Keywords biodiversity; conservation policy; ecological solidarity; fiscal transfer; protected areas; public funding
UFZ wide themes RU6;
Abstract Biodiversity payments have become an increasingly proposed tool to promote conservation measures. An unexplored issue concerns the potential role of fiscal transfers between the state and infra-national authorities potentially as direct financial incentives for biodiversity conservation. We explore how protected areas can be taken into account in a redistributive fiscal transfer system between the state and local authorities, i.e., municipalities. Different simulations were made in the Mediterranean region of southern France, a major biodiversity hotspot subject to increasing threats. We examined two methods for fiscal transfer: first, a “per hectare” method, based on the surface of the protected area within the boundaries of the municipality and second a “population equivalent” method, in which we convert the surface of protected areas into relative numbers of inhabitants. Our results show that consideration of the population of the municipality in addition to its protected areas’ surface can provide a strong incentive to encourage municipalities to designate protected areas. However, this will require increased public funding to buffer financial losses incurred by large municipalities that have a low proportion of their territory within protected areas. We discuss the social feasibility of this tool for green infrastructure implementation and future protected area designation.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=14063
Borie, M., Mathevet, R., Letourneau, A., Ring, I., Thompson, J.D., Marty, P. (2014):
Exploring the contribution of fiscal transfers to protected area policy
Ecol. Soc. 19 (1), art. 9 10.5751/ES-05716-190109