Spatial interactions in habitat conservation: Evidence from prairie pothole easements

Chad Lawley () and Wanhong Yang

Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, 2015, vol. 71, issue C, 71-89

Abstract: We examine the role of spatial interactions in conservation easements placed on prairie pothole habitat in western Canada. One of the goals of the conservation easement program we study is to protect contiguous habitat. We identify endogenous spatial interactions among conservation easements and government protected land, independent of spatially correlated landscape features and local economic shocks that influence easement enrollment. We present evidence that easements increase the likelihood of subsequent easements on neighboring land. Government-protected land appears to have little effect on the location of conservation easements. These results imply that conservation agencies have leveraged past conservation investment to enroll more contiguous habitat in permanent easements through a combination of targeting and positive social interactions among neighboring landowners.

Keywords: Conservation easements; Prairie potholes; Land conservation; Conservation planning; Social interactions; Contiguous habitat; Spatial spillovers (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q24 Q57 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (18)

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Working Paper: Spatial Interactions in Habitat Conservation: Evidence from Prairie Pothole Easements (2014)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jeeman:v:71:y:2015:i:c:p:71-89

DOI: 10.1016/j.jeem.2015.02.003

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