Understanding and Overcoming the Barriers for Cost-Effective Conservation
Date
2016-03
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Department of Applied Economics and Statistics, University of Delaware, Newark, DE.
Abstract
Despite extensive research demonstrating the benefits of applying cost
effective conservation techniques, such as optimization, a large gap remains
between the evidence from research and the actions of professions as they
design and implement conservation programs. This study examines this gap between the
research evidence and the conservation community’s practice through an international survey
of conservation professionals who are familiar with cost-effective conservation techniques. The
results show that the vast majority of survey respondents viewed cost-effectiveness as a virtue
but ultimately do not consider it as important as other program design criteria. These results
suggest the advocates of cost-effective conservation need to address concerns about fairness
and transparency and remedying gaps in the knowledge and expertise of professionals involved.
Finally, the lack of incentive to conservation professionals to change their practices is a
challenge that calls for public pressure and encouragement for experimentation and evidence-based policy to improve the cost effectiveness of conservation efforts.
Description
Keywords
Cost-Effective Conservation, Conservation Professionals, Conservation Planning, Optimization
Citation
Grand, Linda., Messer K.D., W. Allen. 2016. “Understanding and Overcoming the Barriers for Cost Effective Conservation”. Applied Economics & Statistics Research Report, University of Delaware, RR16-06.