The Science of Strategic Conservation Protecting More with Less

• Main Authors: Messer, Kent D. (Author), Allen, William L. (Author)
• Format: Book
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge ; United Kingdom Cambridge University Press 2018
• Subjects: Conservation of natural resources > Decision making; Conservation of natural resources > Economic aspects; Environmentalism; Environmental protection > Mathematical models
• Online Access: Click Here to View Status and Holdings.
• Physical Description: xiii, 329 pages illustrations 23 cm
• Bibliography: Includes bibliographical references (pages 301-325) and index
• ISBN: 9781316642184

Billions have been spent on land conservation but too little attention had been paid to how cost-effective these investments have been. With budgets increasingly constrained, conservationists must learn to fully harness their funds to protect critical resources. Messer and Allen are pioneers in making conservation selection more successful, cost-effective, scientific, and transparent. This book introduces powerful mathematical tools available for project selection, using real-life examples and a practical step-by-step approach. Readers can readily apply these methods to their own work, accomplishing more with less by combining the individual benefits of structured decision-making, mathematical programming, and an understanding of market forces and human behavior. The authors highlight tools from conservation science, mathematics, land use planning and behavioral economics, showing how they can be combined to help protect key environmental resources. This is an invaluable volume for all students, professionals and stakeholders associated with conservation programs.