Birds and Bioenergy within the Americas: A Cross-National, Social–Ecological Study of Ecosystem Service Tradeoffs

Jessie L. Knowlton, Kathleen E. Halvorsen, David J. Flaspohler, Christopher R. Webster, Jesse Abrams, Sara M. Almeida, Stefan L. Arriaga-Weiss, Brad Barnett, Maíra R. Cardoso, Pablo V. Cerqueira, Diana Córdoba, Marcos Persio Dantas-Santos, Jennifer L. Dunn, Amarella Eastmond, Gina M. Jarvi, Julian A. Licata, Ena Mata-Zayas, Rodrigo Medeiros, M. Azahara Mesa-Jurado, Lízbeth Yamily Moo-Culebro, Cassandra Moseley, Erik Nielsen, Colin C. Phifer, Erin C. Pischke, Chelsea Schelly, Theresa Selfa, Chelsea A. Silva, Tatiana Souza, Samuel R. Sweitz and César J. Vázquez-Navarrete
Additional contact information
Jessie L. Knowlton: Department of Biology, Wheaton College, Wheaton, MA 60187, USA
Kathleen E. Halvorsen: Associate Vice President for Research Development Department, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI 49931, USA
David J. Flaspohler: College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI 49931, USA
Christopher R. Webster: College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI 49931, USA
Jesse Abrams: Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources and Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
Sara M. Almeida: Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém 66075-110, Brazil
Stefan L. Arriaga-Weiss: División Académica de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, Villahermosa 86040, Mexico
Brad Barnett: Department of Social Sciences, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI 49931, USA
Maíra R. Cardoso: Laboratory of Biogeography, Conservation, and Macroecology (BIOMACRO), Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém 66075-110, Brazil
Pablo V. Cerqueira: Laboratory of Biogeography, Conservation, and Macroecology (BIOMACRO), Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém 66075-110, Brazil
Diana Córdoba: Department of Global Development Studies, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
Marcos Persio Dantas-Santos: Laboratory of Biogeography, Conservation, and Macroecology (BIOMACRO), Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém 66075-110, Brazil
Jennifer L. Dunn: Department of Social Sciences, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI 49931, USA
Amarella Eastmond: Unidad de Ciencias Sociales, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida 97000, Mexico
Gina M. Jarvi: College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI 49931, USA
Julian A. Licata: Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, Concordia E3201, Argentina
Ena Mata-Zayas: División Académica de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, Villahermosa 86040, Mexico
Rodrigo Medeiros: Conservation International Brazil, Rio de Janeiro 20040-006, Brazil
M. Azahara Mesa-Jurado: Laboratorio Transdisciplinario para la Sustentabilidad (LaTSu), El Colegio de la Frontera Sur Unidad Villahermosa, Villahermosa 86040, Mexico
Lízbeth Yamily Moo-Culebro: División Académica de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, Villahermosa 86040, Mexico
Cassandra Moseley: Ecosystem Workforce Program, Institute for a Sustainable Environment, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA
Erik Nielsen: School of Earth Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
Colin C. Phifer: College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI 49931, USA
Erin C. Pischke: Department of Social Sciences, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI 49931, USA
Chelsea Schelly: Department of Social Sciences, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI 49931, USA
Theresa Selfa: Environmental Studies, State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA
Chelsea A. Silva: School of Earth Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
Tatiana Souza: Conservation International Brazil, Rio de Janeiro 20040-006, Brazil
Samuel R. Sweitz: Department of Social Sciences, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI 49931, USA
César J. Vázquez-Navarrete: Colegio de Postgraduados, Campus Tabasco, Villahermosa 86039, Mexico

Land, 2021, vol. 10, issue 3, 1-21

Abstract: Although renewable energy holds great promise in mitigating climate change, there are socioeconomic and ecological tradeoffs related to each form of renewable energy. Forest-related bioenergy is especially controversial, because tree plantations often replace land that could be used to grow food crops and can have negative impacts on biodiversity. In this study, we examined public perceptions and ecosystem service tradeoffs between the provisioning services associated with cover types associated with bioenergy crop (feedstock) production and forest habitat-related supporting services for birds, which themselves provide cultural and regulating services. We combined a social survey-based assessment of local values and perceptions with measures of bioenergy feedstock production impacts on bird habitat in four countries: Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, and the USA. Respondents in all countries rated birds as important or very important (83–99% of respondents) and showed lower enthusiasm for, but still supported, the expansion of bioenergy feedstocks (48–60% of respondents). Bioenergy feedstock cover types in Brazil and Argentina had the greatest negative impact on birds but had a positive impact on birds in the USA. In Brazil and Mexico, public perceptions aligned fairly well with the realities of the impacts of potential bioenergy feedstocks on bird communities. However, in Argentina and the USA, perceptions of bioenergy impacts on birds did not match well with the data. Understanding people’s values and perceptions can help inform better policy and management decisions regarding land use changes.

Keywords: aspen; biodiversity; Elaeis guineensis; eucalyptus; land use change; oil palm; Populus; public perceptions (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jlands:v:10:y:2021:i:3:p:258-:d:509874

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