@article{Tisdell:153512,
      recid = {153512},
      author = {Tisdell, Clem},
      title = {Economics as a Basis for Conserving Nature},
      address = {1996-02},
      number = {1740-2016-140456},
      series = {Biodiversity Conservation: Studies in its Economics and  Management, Mainly in Yunnan, China},
      pages = {16},
      year = {1996},
      abstract = {The relationships of economists with ecologists and  conservationists have improved following global interest in  the concept of sustainable development. In addition,  international and other bodies interested in nature  conservation have increasingly turned to economics to  provide justifications for nature conservation projects and  policies to support these. While this is welcome, it  behoves users of such techniques to be aware of their  limitations, as well as their advantages. As a first step,  it is useful to be aware of the ethical foundations of  economic analysis. These are outlined. As a prelude to  discussion of the use of social cost-benefit analysis as a  method of evaluating nature conservation, classifications  of the economic values of wildlife are- discussed.  Classificatory schemes are a useful aid to determining the  total economic value of wildlife and it is emphasised that  both consumptive values and non-consumptive values are  important. While social cost-benefit analysis is a  well-developed technique for economic assessment and has  been widely applied to nature conservation projects, it is  not without critics. Critics include those who support the  use of safe minimum standards. For nature conservation this  is often taken to imply a minimum viable population of a  species and requisite habitat to support it. Further  qualifications to the use of social cost­ benefit analysis  have been made by advocates of strong conditions for  sustainability and the implications of these for nature  conservation are considered. Economic reasons for  biodiversity conservation are outlined but it is concluded  that economists still have a long way to go in determining  economic values for biodiversity.
Selected economic policy  proposals and issues are discussed. Limits to private  property (privatisation) as a means for nature conservation  are mentioned and risks associated with the  commercialisation and farming of species from the point of  view of biodiversity loss are discussed. The problem of  biodiversity loss in less developed countries is given  particular attention. In conclusion, it is stated that  connections between economic analysis and nature  conservation can be expected to grow. Even in cases where  values are not entirely anthropocentric, economics will  have a policy role because cost­ effectiveness is likely  still to be relevant.},
      url = {http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/153512},
      doi = {https://doi.org/10.22004/ag.econ.153512},
}