The role of ecosystem services in the protection of biodiversity
With the rapid growth and interest in an emerging carbon market (and other ecosystem service markets), we are exploring the benefits and also the potential for perverse outcomes from such investments. In particular, we are interested in answering questions such as:
- How we can best evaluate (the mostly) shorter term commercial interests in ecosystem service markets against longer-term opportunities that are forgone?
- What are the trade-offs between ecosystem service protection and biodiversity conservation?
- How can biodiversity considerations best be integrated into ecosystem service orientated markets?
Carbon stocks in East Kalimantan
Projects
People
Kerrie Wilson, Oscar Venter, Simon Drummond, Lucinda Douglass, Elizabeth Law
Links
Diversitas – Integrating biodiversity science for human well-being
Key references
Egoh, B. N., B. Reyers, J. Carwardine, M. Bode, P. J. O’Farrell, K. A. Wilson, H. P. Possingham, M. Rouget, W. D. Lange, D. M. Richardson, and R. M. Cowling. In Press. Safeguarding biodiversity and ecosystem services: trade-offs and synergies in the Little Karoo, South Africa. Conservation Biology.
Venter, O. Laurance, W.F., Iwamura, T., Wilson, K.A., Fuller, R.A., Possingham, H.P. 2009. Harnessing carbon-payments to protect biodiversity. Science. 326: 1368
Venter, O., E. Meijaard, H. Possingham, R. Dennis, D. Sheil, S. Wich, and K. Wilson. 2009. Confronting the carbon crisis-a safeguard for tropical forest wildlife. Conservation Letters. 2: 123-129.
Next theme: Optimal monitoring and evaluation
