Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2016.06.011
Title (Primary) Land for biodiversity conservation — To buy or borrow?
Author Schöttker, O.; Johst, K.; Drechsler, M.; Wätzold, F.
Source Titel Ecological Economics
Year 2016
Department OESA
Volume 129
Page From 94
Page To 103
Language englisch
Keywords Agri-environment scheme; Conservation investment; Cost-effectiveness; Ecological–economic modelling; Make-or-buy decision; Payments for environmental services
UFZ wide themes RU5
Abstract The conservation of endangered species and habitats frequently requires a certain type of land use which, however, leads to opportunity costs compared to profit-maximising land-use. In such a setting biodiversity conservation organisations have two main options: (1) The ‘buy alternative’ where they buy the area of interest and either carry out the necessary land-use measures themselves or hire firms to do so, or (2) the ‘borrow alternative’ where they ‘borrow’ the land for conservation from private landowners who agree to carry out biodiversity-enhancing land-use measures over a certain period while the conservation organisation compensates them for their opportunity costs. Comparing both alternatives raises the question of budget efficiency, i.e. which alternative will lead to a higher level of biodiversity conservation for a given financial resources? In this paper we present a conceptual ecological–economic model, and then apply the model to analyse how changes in ecological and economic parameters influence the relative efficiency performance of the two alternatives.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=17572
Schöttker, O., Johst, K., Drechsler, M., Wätzold, F. (2016):
Land for biodiversity conservation — To buy or borrow?
Ecol. Econ. 129 , 94 - 103 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2016.06.011