Valuing Changes in Forest Biodiversity

Buszko-Briggs, Małgorzata, Mikołaj Czajkowski () and Nick Hanley ()
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Buszko-Briggs, Małgorzata: Forest Research Institute, Warsaw
Mikołaj Czajkowski: Faculty of Economic Sciences, University of Warsaw

No 2008-02, Working Papers from Faculty of Economic Sciences, University of Warsaw

Abstract: The paper offers an innovative approach to valuation of biodiversity. Instead of the prevailing approach of using only one indicator of biodiversity (usually number of species) we provide evidence that it is possible to provide attributes describing complex characteristics of biodiversity based on sound ecological knowledge. We argue that our approach managed to value the multi-level changes in the biological diversity, by using the attributes which described structural, species and functional diversity at the same time. Our study shows that even complex indicators of multi-level biodiversity might be successfully communicated to respondents in a comprehensible and meaningful way. The empirical application of the method is provided based on a choice experiment study conducted in Białowieża Forest, Poland. The results underline the importance of using multi-level indicators and question the validity of only species-level indicators. Interestingly, the respondents appreciated passive protection regimes, resulting in preservation of natural ecological processes. In addition, the respondents seemed to be concerned about means, and not only about the results of protection programmes. Finally, some conclusions for future applications and policy making are drawn.

Keywords: biodiversity, forests, valuation; choice experiment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q57 Q51 Q23 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2008-07
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Published in Stirling Economics Discussion Papers, no. 2008-17

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.wne.uw.edu.pl/inf/wyd/WP/WNE_WP2.pdf First version, 2008 (application/pdf)

Related works:
Working Paper: Valuing Changes in Forest Biodiversity (2008)
Journal Article: Valuing changes in forest biodiversity (2009)
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Persistent link: http://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:war:wpaper:2008-02

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