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Economics and Ecosystems: Efficiency, Sustainability and Equity in Ecosystem Management
Author(s): Lars Hein (Author)
- Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing
- Publication Date: November 30, 2010
- Language: English
- Print length: 224 pages
- ISBN-10: 1848440650
- ISBN-13: 9781848440654
Book Description
Economics and Ecosystems demonstrates how the concepts of economic efficiency, sustainability and equity can be applied in ecosystem management. The book presents an overview of these three concepts, a framework for their analysis and modeling, and three case studies. Specific attention is given to how complex ecosystem dynamics, such as thresholds or irreversible responses, influence ecosystem management options. The case studies focus on the ecosystem dynamics and ecosystem services supply in a hypothetical forest ecosystem, a Dutch wetland ecosystem, and a rangeland in the Western Sahel.
Integrating ecology and economics, this informative book will appeal to postgraduate students in environmental sciences and environmental economics as well as ecosystem managers.
Editorial Reviews
Review
‘This is a book that sparks ideas. . . It will be useful for teaching: I will be recommending it to my ‘Economics for Agricultural and Environmental Sciences’ class. . . The book is successful because it provides, not a framework, but something better: a path for the novice to follow; something that brings together the relevant considerations when judging environmental management options and policies.’ — S.J. Ramsden, Experimental Agriculture
‘A central issue in economics is the optimal allocation of scarce resources. Is efficient allocation indeed optimal and does it lead to sustainable solutions? Lars Hein contributes to this discussion at the interface of ecology and economics, and provides interesting case studies to test various theoretical approaches. The book is a must for both economists with an interest in ecology and for ecologists with an interest in economics!’ — Ekko van Ierland, Wageningen University, the Netherlands
About the Author
Lars Hein, Associate Professor, Environmental Systems Analysis Group, Wageningen University, the Netherlands
