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Integration of ecological-biological thresholds in conservation decision making.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Mavrommati, G; Bithas, K; Borsuk, ME; Howarth, RB
Published in: Conservation biology : the journal of the Society for Conservation Biology
December 2016

In the Anthropocene, coupled human and natural systems dominate and only a few natural systems remain relatively unaffected by human influence. On the one hand, conservation criteria based on areas of minimal human impact are not relevant to much of the biosphere. On the other hand, conservation criteria based on economic factors are problematic with respect to their ability to arrive at operational indicators of well-being that can be applied in practice over multiple generations. Coupled human and natural systems are subject to economic development which, under current management structures, tends to affect natural systems and cross planetary boundaries. Hence, designing and applying conservation criteria applicable in real-world systems where human and natural systems need to interact and sustainably coexist is essential. By recognizing the criticality of satisfying basic needs as well as the great uncertainty over the needs and preferences of future generations, we sought to incorporate conservation criteria based on minimal human impact into economic evaluation. These criteria require the conservation of environmental conditions such that the opportunity for intergenerational welfare optimization is maintained. Toward this end, we propose the integration of ecological-biological thresholds into decision making and use as an example the planetary-boundaries approach. Both conservation scientists and economists must be involved in defining operational ecological-biological thresholds that can be incorporated into economic thinking and reflect the objectives of conservation, sustainability, and intergenerational welfare optimization.

Duke Scholars

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Published In

Conservation biology : the journal of the Society for Conservation Biology

DOI

EISSN

1523-1739

ISSN

0888-8892

Publication Date

December 2016

Volume

30

Issue

6

Start / End Page

1173 / 1181

Related Subject Headings

  • Uncertainty
  • Humans
  • Ecology
  • Ecology
  • Decision Making
  • Conservation of Natural Resources
  • 4104 Environmental management
  • 3109 Zoology
  • 3103 Ecology
  • 07 Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences
 

Citation

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ICMJE
MLA
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Mavrommati, G., Bithas, K., Borsuk, M. E., & Howarth, R. B. (2016). Integration of ecological-biological thresholds in conservation decision making. Conservation Biology : The Journal of the Society for Conservation Biology, 30(6), 1173–1181. https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.12745
Mavrommati, Georgia, Kostas Bithas, Mark E. Borsuk, and Richard B. Howarth. “Integration of ecological-biological thresholds in conservation decision making.Conservation Biology : The Journal of the Society for Conservation Biology 30, no. 6 (December 2016): 1173–81. https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.12745.
Mavrommati G, Bithas K, Borsuk ME, Howarth RB. Integration of ecological-biological thresholds in conservation decision making. Conservation biology : the journal of the Society for Conservation Biology. 2016 Dec;30(6):1173–81.
Mavrommati, Georgia, et al. “Integration of ecological-biological thresholds in conservation decision making.Conservation Biology : The Journal of the Society for Conservation Biology, vol. 30, no. 6, Dec. 2016, pp. 1173–81. Epmc, doi:10.1111/cobi.12745.
Mavrommati G, Bithas K, Borsuk ME, Howarth RB. Integration of ecological-biological thresholds in conservation decision making. Conservation biology : the journal of the Society for Conservation Biology. 2016 Dec;30(6):1173–1181.
Journal cover image

Published In

Conservation biology : the journal of the Society for Conservation Biology

DOI

EISSN

1523-1739

ISSN

0888-8892

Publication Date

December 2016

Volume

30

Issue

6

Start / End Page

1173 / 1181

Related Subject Headings

  • Uncertainty
  • Humans
  • Ecology
  • Ecology
  • Decision Making
  • Conservation of Natural Resources
  • 4104 Environmental management
  • 3109 Zoology
  • 3103 Ecology
  • 07 Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences