9 - Environmental economics, law and education

Summary

In this chapter we will examine briefly some of the economic issues in conservation. We will also consider the legal framework of conservation, and broader conservation policy. Since these topics change fast, and there are many differences between countries, specialist texts should be consulted for the latest situation. Conservation policy needs to be developed in the light of public opinion, which can indicate the social benefits of the policy. The results of some relevant opinion surveys are given in Table 9.1 and Fig. 9.1; these might overestimate the strength of opinion since it costs the respondent nothing to profess interest in conservation, but nevertheless the level of consistency across countries is interesting.

Economics

There are many circumstances when it is helpful to put a financial value on wildlife – for example to compare the costs and benefits of development and conservation options. Some people feel that valuation is an impossible task, because of the uncertainties in the numbers of species or their uses and because some values are hard to compare in the same units (they are economic ‘incommensurables’). Others (especially economists) feel this is a problem that economics can cope with. Some believe the very attempt to give wildlife an economic value is immoral, and that we should consider the intrinsic right of species to exist (Chapter 1). As the ethical arguments demonstrate, economics should be only one consideration amongst many in defining policy.