Hardback
Biodiversity in the Balance
Land Use, National Development and Global Welfare
9781840643459 Edward Elgar Publishing
Biodiversity in the Balance summarises the scientific and economic debate and highlights disagreements about the definitions of biodiversity management objectives. The author goes on to develop an original analytical treatment of the incremental cost financing mechanisms adopted by the Convention on Biological Diversity. Significantly, he undertakes a microeconomic study of land use change in a biosphere reserve in South-East Mexico. Based on an original data set, the author presents a detailed modelling exercise of resource and land use choices at the individual farm level with related projections of the impact at both community and regional levels. Techniques used include multi-period linear programming and dynamic stock-flow simulation. The book concludes by addressing policy implications and options for future research.
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Critical Acclaim
Contents
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What are the best land use combinations to meet the social and economic needs of developing nations without jeopardising the ability of natural systems to deliver their life-support functions? Based on theoretical analysis and original case study material, this book attempts to answer this question by studying the interactions between economic forces which can lead to land use changes and the subsequent loss of biodiversity. Raffaello Cervigni examines the policy options and management practices that may counteract these losses and encourage the development of sustainable land use and biodiversity conservation.
Biodiversity in the Balance summarises the scientific and economic debate and highlights disagreements about the definitions of biodiversity management objectives. The author goes on to develop an original analytical treatment of the incremental cost financing mechanisms adopted by the Convention on Biological Diversity. Significantly, he undertakes a microeconomic study of land use change in a biosphere reserve in South-East Mexico. Based on an original data set, the author presents a detailed modelling exercise of resource and land use choices at the individual farm level with related projections of the impact at both community and regional levels. Techniques used include multi-period linear programming and dynamic stock-flow simulation. The book concludes by addressing policy implications and options for future research.
This book will be of interest to graduate students, researchers and professionals in a variety of disciplines including economics, natural resource studies, social studies, geography and land planning. The book will also be of value to the large environmental NGO community.
Biodiversity in the Balance summarises the scientific and economic debate and highlights disagreements about the definitions of biodiversity management objectives. The author goes on to develop an original analytical treatment of the incremental cost financing mechanisms adopted by the Convention on Biological Diversity. Significantly, he undertakes a microeconomic study of land use change in a biosphere reserve in South-East Mexico. Based on an original data set, the author presents a detailed modelling exercise of resource and land use choices at the individual farm level with related projections of the impact at both community and regional levels. Techniques used include multi-period linear programming and dynamic stock-flow simulation. The book concludes by addressing policy implications and options for future research.
This book will be of interest to graduate students, researchers and professionals in a variety of disciplines including economics, natural resource studies, social studies, geography and land planning. The book will also be of value to the large environmental NGO community.
Critical Acclaim
‘Recognising that international policymakers are increasingly shifting away from the approach to biodiversity conservation that seeks to protect large, relatively undisturbed ecosystems, Raffaello Cervigni offers us a way to think about land use change and biodiversity loss in managed ecosystems. His very constructive and practical contribution to the economics of biodiversity loss is a step forward from the obsession with species preservation in biodiversity hotspots. It is well worth reading.’
– Charles Perrings, University of York, UK
‘No-one combines the practical experience with analytical expertise in biodiversity conservation better than Raffaello Cervigni. He has worked at so many levels on this problem – local, national, and global. This volume demonstrates the manner in which real world experience can inform the better understanding of biodiversity problem solving. I consider it essential reading for all academics and policymakers interested in the economic nature of the solution to this problem.’
– Timothy M. Swanson, University College London, UK
‘The book proposes an original analysis of key aspects of the biodiversity debate and puts the major Mexican case study in context. It deals with some issues that have not been treated well analytically in the general literature, including incremental cost, land use gradients etc. The end result is that the story is a complex one, but we should not be too surprised that complex issues don’t have simple answers. There are very few studies that are so thorough or well researched, so it is going to repay careful reading.’
– David Pearce, University College London, UK
– Charles Perrings, University of York, UK
‘No-one combines the practical experience with analytical expertise in biodiversity conservation better than Raffaello Cervigni. He has worked at so many levels on this problem – local, national, and global. This volume demonstrates the manner in which real world experience can inform the better understanding of biodiversity problem solving. I consider it essential reading for all academics and policymakers interested in the economic nature of the solution to this problem.’
– Timothy M. Swanson, University College London, UK
‘The book proposes an original analysis of key aspects of the biodiversity debate and puts the major Mexican case study in context. It deals with some issues that have not been treated well analytically in the general literature, including incremental cost, land use gradients etc. The end result is that the story is a complex one, but we should not be too surprised that complex issues don’t have simple answers. There are very few studies that are so thorough or well researched, so it is going to repay careful reading.’
– David Pearce, University College London, UK
Contents
Contents: Preface Part I: Introduction 1. Biodiversity Conservation and Loss: The Background Part II: Theoretical Issues 2. Land Use Change, Biodiversity Loss, and Economic Analysis 3. Financing Conservation: Theoretical Aspects Part III: Biodiversity Loss and Conservation in Practice: A Case Study in Mexico 4. The Area: Sierra de Santa Marta, Veracruz, Mexico 5. The Process of Land Use Change: Modelling Farm Behaviour 6. Land Use Changes: Model Predictions and Policy Design References Index
