Decision-Making under Uncertainty in the Conservation of Biological Diversity
EPA Grant Number: R825311Title: Decision-Making under Uncertainty in the Conservation of Biological Diversity
Investigators: Solow, Andrew R. , Camm, Jeffrey , Csuti, Blair , O'Connor, Raymond , Polasky, Steve
Current Investigators: Solow, Andrew R.
Institution: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution , Oregon State University , University of Cincinnati - Main Campus , University of Idaho , University of Maine
Current Institution: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
EPA Project Officer: Clark, Matthew
Project Period: October 15, 1996 through October 14, 1998
Project Amount: $271,463
RFA: Decision Making and Valuation for Environmental Policy (1996)
Research Category: Economics and Decision Sciences
Description:
The goal of this project is to develop and evaluate methods for setting species conservation priorities when information is incomplete. The project is organized around the general problem of selecting a subset of potential sites for the establishment of biological reserves. The research will focus on three specific issues: (1) estimating the probability that a species is present within a particular site; (2) based on these probabilities, identifying the subset of potential reserve sites with maximal expected species coverage; and (3) exploring the extent to which species number serves as a reasonable proxy for more refined measures of biological diversity. Alternative approaches will be evaluated in a sequence of experiments using a modified version of the North American Breeding Bird Survey data set. The project is expected to result in a set of practical methods that can be used to guide conservation decision making. Publications and Presentations:Publications have been submitted on this project: View all 12 publications for this project
Journal Articles:Journal Articles have been submitted on this project: View all 9 journal articles for this project
Supplemental Keywords:valuation, contingent valuation, willingness to pay , Economic, Social, & Behavioral Science Research Program, Scientific Discipline, RFA, Social Science, decision-making, Economics & Decision Making, stakeholder, ecosystem valuation, policy analysis, preference formation, psychological attitudes, public policy, decision analysis, economic objectives, incentives, community-based, environmental policy, willingness to pay, conservation, valuing environmental quality, community involvement, North American Breeding Bird Survey, biodiversity option values, public values, social psychology, valuation, surveys, compensation, environmental assets, interviews, contingent valuation, economic benefits, environmental values, standards of value
Progress and Final Reports:
1997 Progress Report
Final Report