Evaluation of Market Limitations in the Case of Ecosystem Services

Authors: Giani Gradinaru

Abstract:

Biodiversity crisis is one of the many crises that started at the turn of the millennia. Concrete form of expression is still disputed, but there is a relatively high consensus regarding the high rate of degradation and the urgent need for action. The strategy of action outlines a strong economic component, together with the recognition of market mechanisms as the most effective policies to protect biodiversity. In this context, biodiversity and ecosystem services are natural assets that play a key role in economic strategies and technological development to promote development and prosperity. Developing and strengthening policies for transition to an economy based on efficient use of resources is the way forward. To emphasize the co-viability specific to the connection economyecosystem services, scientific approach aimed on one hand how to implement policies for nature conservation and on the other hand, the concepts underlying the economic expression of ecosystem services- value, in the context of current technology. Following the analysis of business opportunities associated with changes in ecosystem services was concluded that development of market mechanisms for nature conservation is a trend that is increasingly stronger individualized within recent years. Although there are still many controversial issues that have already given rise to an obvious bias, international organizations and national governments have initiated and implemented in cooperation or independently such mechanisms. Consequently, they created the conditions for convergence between private interests and social interests of nature conservation, so there are opportunities for ongoing business development which leads, among other things, the positive effects on biodiversity. Finally, points out that markets fail to quantify the value of most ecosystem services. Existing price signals reflect at best, only a proportion of the total amount corresponding provision of food, water or fuel.

Keywords: ecosystem services, economic evaluation, nature conservation

Digital Object Identifier (DOI): doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1083141

References:

[1] Bishop, J. (2009), Building biodiversity business: Experience to-date and future prospects, presentation at the conference in Athens on the implementation of Biodiversity Action Plan for EU
[2] De Laplante, K. (2005), Is Ecosystem Management a Postmodern Science, in Ecologia paradigms lost: routes pf theory change, De Kim Cuddington, Beatrix E. Beisner (editors), Academic Press, p.p. 397-412.
[3] Fitzsimmons, A.K. (1999), Ecosystem management: An illusion? PercReports, vol.17, nr.5, pp.3-5.
[4] Ghazoul, J., Garcia, C., Kushalappa, C.G. (2009), Landscape labelling: A concept for next-generation payment for ecosystem service schemes, Forest Ecology and Management, nr.258, pp.1889-1895.
[5] Gomez-Baggethun, E., de Groot, R., Lomas, P.L., Montes, C. (2010), The history of ecosystem services in economic theory and practice: from early notions to markets and payment schemes, Ecological Economics, 69, p.p. 1209-1218.
[6] Ioan, I., Bran, F., Râdulescu, C.V. (2010), Dimensiunea managerialâ a conservârii naturii, Universitara Publishing House, Bucharest, pp.149- 152.
[7] Jonkers, I., Lambooy, T., Simons, H., Gussenhoven, S. (2010) Probiodiversity business: a new landscape of opportunity, http://www.business-biodiversity.eu/default.asp?Menue=83&News=35, 11.02.2011.
[8] Myers, N. (1988), Threatened biotas: "Hot spots" in tropical forests, The Environmentalist, nr.8, pp.1-20.
[9] Rojas, I. (2010), Market mechanisms are a false solution to biodiversity loss, http://www.foei.org/en/media/archive/2010/market-mechanismsare- a-false-solution-to-biodiversity-loss, 01.03.2011.
[10] Salzman, J. (2005), Creating markets for ecosystem services: notes from the field, New York University Law Review, nr. 80(6), pp.870-961.
[11] TEEB (2008), The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity. An interim report.
[12] Torras, M. (2000), The Total Economic Value of Amazonian Deforestation - 1978-1993, Ecological Economics, nr.33, pp.283-297.
[13] Van Hecken, G., Bastiaensen, J. (2010), Payments for ecosystem services: justified or not? A political view, Environmental Science and Policy, nr.12, pp.785-792.
[14] Vatn, A. (2005), Rationality, institutions and environmental policy, Ecological Economics, nr.55(2), pp.203-217.
[15] Wittman, D. (1984), Liability for harmor restitution for benefit?, Journal of Legal Studies, nr.13, pp.57-80.