Economics and Ecosystems – Efficiency, Sustainability and Equity in Ecosystem Management

Citation

(2011), "Economics and Ecosystems – Efficiency, Sustainability and Equity in Ecosystem Management", Management of Environmental Quality, Vol. 22 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/meq.2011.08322aae.002

Economics and Ecosystems – Efficiency, Sustainability and Equity in Ecosystem Management

Economics and Ecosystems – Efficiency, Sustainability and Equity in Ecosystem Management

Article Type: Books and resources From: Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal, Volume 22, Issue 1

Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd,London,September 2010,224 pp.,ISBN 9781848440654,£53.96,

Economics and Ecosystems demonstrates how the concepts of economic efficiency, sustainability and equity can be applied in ecosystem management. A central issue in economics is the optimal allocation of scarce resources. Is efficient allocation indeed optimal and does it lead to sustainable solutions?

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 book will appeal to postgraduate students in environmental sciences and environmental economics as well as ecosystem managers.