TY - JOUR
T1 - Ecological compensation of stochastic wetland biodiversity
T2 - National or regional policy schemes?
AU - Elofsson, Katarina
AU - Hiron, Matthew
AU - Kačergytė, Ineta
AU - Pärt, Tomas
PY - 2023/2
Y1 - 2023/2
N2 - The aim of this study is to compare policy schemes for ecological compensation applied at national and regional levels, using exploited inland wetlands as an example. We study whether uncertainty, due to natural variability and measurement difficulties, motivates compensation that is carried out in the same region as that of the exploited site, or whether it rather motivates nationwide compensation schemes. For this purpose, we develop an empirical, chance-constrained programming model of cost-effective wetland management. The model is spatially differentiated and accounts for heterogeneity in wetland quality across wetland types and regions. Wetland quality is defined by three alternative biodiversity indices: species richness, population-weighted species richness, and red-listed species richness, estimated from voluntarily reported data on breeding bird species observations. Results show that regional schemes are more expensive, in particular if the policy maker dislikes uncertainty and wants to prioritize uncommon species. Contrary to expectations from the theoretical analysis, regional schemes would lead to a higher risk-adjusted level of biodiversity at the national level. However, regionalization also implies that targets cannot be achieved if a high safety margin is imposed. Trading ratios are robust to the choice of wetland quality index.
AB - The aim of this study is to compare policy schemes for ecological compensation applied at national and regional levels, using exploited inland wetlands as an example. We study whether uncertainty, due to natural variability and measurement difficulties, motivates compensation that is carried out in the same region as that of the exploited site, or whether it rather motivates nationwide compensation schemes. For this purpose, we develop an empirical, chance-constrained programming model of cost-effective wetland management. The model is spatially differentiated and accounts for heterogeneity in wetland quality across wetland types and regions. Wetland quality is defined by three alternative biodiversity indices: species richness, population-weighted species richness, and red-listed species richness, estimated from voluntarily reported data on breeding bird species observations. Results show that regional schemes are more expensive, in particular if the policy maker dislikes uncertainty and wants to prioritize uncommon species. Contrary to expectations from the theoretical analysis, regional schemes would lead to a higher risk-adjusted level of biodiversity at the national level. However, regionalization also implies that targets cannot be achieved if a high safety margin is imposed. Trading ratios are robust to the choice of wetland quality index.
KW - Conservation
KW - Cost-effectiveness
KW - Ecological compensation
KW - Restoration
KW - Species richness
KW - Wetlands
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85142125973&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2022.107672
DO - 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2022.107672
M3 - Journal article
AN - SCOPUS:85142125973
SN - 0921-8009
VL - 204
JO - Ecological Economics
JF - Ecological Economics
IS - Part A
M1 - 107672
ER -