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Economic reasons for conserving wild nature
Andrew Balmford1, Aaron Bruner, Philip Cooper
1Conservation Biology Group, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, UK. a.balmford@zoo.cam.ac.uk
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|August 10, 2002
Summary
Protecting natural habitats provides significant economic benefits, far outweighing conversion costs. Conservation efforts offer a substantial return on investment, estimated at over 100:1.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Environmental Economics
- Conservation Science
Background:
- Habitat loss and degradation persist globally, largely unchecked since the Rio de Janeiro summit.
- Natural habitats provide substantial, yet often overlooked, economic benefits.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess progress in habitat conservation over the past decade.
- To evaluate the economic benefits of natural habitats versus conversion.
- To estimate the benefit-cost ratio of global conservation programs.
Main Methods:
- Review of accumulated evidence on ecosystem services.
- Economic analysis comparing habitat conservation and conversion.
- Estimation of benefit-cost ratios for global conservation initiatives.
Main Results:
- Habitat loss has continued largely unabated.
- Economic benefits from natural systems exceed those from conversion.
- The benefit:cost ratio for effective global conservation is estimated at a minimum of 100:1.
Conclusions:
- Conservation of wild nature offers significant economic advantages.
- Investment in global conservation programs is highly cost-effective.
- Urgent action is needed to halt habitat degradation and realize economic benefits.
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