Global Conservation of Biodiversity from an Economic Point of View

Abstract

This paper demonstrates froman economic point of view what characterises rational biodiversity conservation efforts, why the present methods for the conservation of biodiversity are not rational, and what measures should be taken to change this state. This economical approach is demonstrated by analysing international policy mechanisms used for the avoidance of one of the internationally greatest ecological risks - the continuing loss of global biodiversity. The international environmental policy is formed by sovereign states which cannot order each other to take certain measures. Rather, they must choose different ways to influence global biodiversity conservation. The statesmust choose to realise this conservation either by unilateral or international agreement. In Sect. 6 and 7 each of these possibilities is analysed as to the extent to which it is used in international biodiversity conservation policy. Further, it is explained froman economical point of view how well the central task of international policy measure, e.g., the internalisation of international external benefits and costs, is fulfilled. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2005.