UVM Theses and Dissertations
Format:
Print
Author:
Kerchner, Charles D.
Title:
Dept./Program:
Natural Resources
Year:
2013
Degree:
PhD
Abstract:
In 2010, the 193 Parties to the Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD) set anambitious goal of increasing the percentage of global terrestrial protected area (PA) from the current 13% to at least 17% by 2020. Protected areas are essential to conserving the earth's biodiversity hotspots and protecting ecosystem services that are critical to human well-being. However, there is a lack of funding to adequately manage the global network of conserved areas, let alone expanding it. Financing PAs has been a key discussion point in international deliberations focusing on biodiversity conservation.
Fer example, the Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the CBD observed insufficient investment is made in biodiversity conservation in general and in PAs in particular. While scientists, policymakers, and practitioners agree conservation finance is inadequate to expand the current PA system, there is a lack of consensus on the best policy tools to address financing needs. This research uses a conceptual framework and three case studies to test the question: Can ecosystem assessment and valuation help planners overcome PA finance barriers?
The first chapter defines the main barriers to PA finance to establish the case for ecosystem valuation. Chapters 2-4 are case studies in the Dominican Republic, United States, and Russia of valuation tools used to overcome protected area finance obstacles. The first valuation tool is a spatially-explicit model that demonstrates how considering the spatial distribution of economic costs in PA management in the Dominican Republic can result in more cost-effective environmental outcomes.
The second tool assesses how key factors, such as property characteristics, silvicultural treatmeIlts, and legislative requirements, affect the financial viability of compliance forest offsets in the United States. The third valuation tool allows decision makers to estimate the total value of ecosystem services in the Kol Refuge watershed in Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia and identifies key public policy alternatives for preservation.
Faced with limited budgets for conservation projects, planners must examine innovative strategies for protected area management. The valuation tools developed here can be incorporated in a strategic plan to expand protected areas worldwide.
Fer example, the Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the CBD observed insufficient investment is made in biodiversity conservation in general and in PAs in particular. While scientists, policymakers, and practitioners agree conservation finance is inadequate to expand the current PA system, there is a lack of consensus on the best policy tools to address financing needs. This research uses a conceptual framework and three case studies to test the question: Can ecosystem assessment and valuation help planners overcome PA finance barriers?
The first chapter defines the main barriers to PA finance to establish the case for ecosystem valuation. Chapters 2-4 are case studies in the Dominican Republic, United States, and Russia of valuation tools used to overcome protected area finance obstacles. The first valuation tool is a spatially-explicit model that demonstrates how considering the spatial distribution of economic costs in PA management in the Dominican Republic can result in more cost-effective environmental outcomes.
The second tool assesses how key factors, such as property characteristics, silvicultural treatmeIlts, and legislative requirements, affect the financial viability of compliance forest offsets in the United States. The third valuation tool allows decision makers to estimate the total value of ecosystem services in the Kol Refuge watershed in Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia and identifies key public policy alternatives for preservation.
Faced with limited budgets for conservation projects, planners must examine innovative strategies for protected area management. The valuation tools developed here can be incorporated in a strategic plan to expand protected areas worldwide.