Around the world, nature conservation is not always easy for local governments.
When a national government establishes a protected area, for example, local governments in that area shoulder many of the costs of conservation — not least the costs of not being able to develop (and tax) protected land.
But a growing phenomenon called “ecological fiscal transfers” is helping ease the burden on local governments — and is proving a simple and powerful way to channel funding to conservation.
A study published today in the journal Nature Sustainability represents the first global review of ecological fiscal transfers, and their potential to promote the protection of nature. Conservation News spoke with Jonah Busch, an economist with Conservation International and the study’s lead author, who calls these transfers “the right idea at the right time,” with significant implications for the financing of conservation worldwide.
A simple idea to ease conservation costs: transferring funds
When a national government establishes a protected area, for example, local governments in that area shoulder many of the costs of conservation — not least the costs of not being able to develop (and tax) protected land.
But a growing phenomenon called “ecological fiscal transfers” is helping ease the burden on local governments — and is proving a simple and powerful way to channel funding to conservation.
A study published today in the journal Nature Sustainability represents the first global review of ecological fiscal transfers, and their potential to promote the protection of nature. Conservation News spoke with Jonah Busch, an economist with Conservation International and the study’s lead author, who calls these transfers “the right idea at the right time,” with significant implications for the financing of conservation worldwide.
A simple idea to ease conservation costs: transferring funds