The Privatisation of Biodiversity?

New Approaches to Conservation Law

New Horizons in Environmental and Energy Law series

Colin T. Reid, Dundee Law School, University of Dundee and Walters Nsoh, Birmingham Law School, University of Birmingham, UK

Current regulatory approaches have not prevented the loss of biodiversity across the world. This book explores the scope to strengthen conservation by using different legal mechanisms such as biodiversity offsetting, payment for ecosystem services and conservation covenants, as well as tradable development rights and taxation. The authors discuss how such mechanisms introduce elements of a market approach as well as private sector initiative and resources. They show how examples already in operation serve to highlight the design challenges, legal, technical and ethical, that must be overcome if these mechanisms are to be effective and widely accepted.

‘This excellent book addresses a key policy agenda for the future of nature conservation and the promotion of biodiversity – the need to involve private actors more centrally in the planning, management and execution of nature conservation policy. This is a central objective of current policy, both in the UK and internationally, but raises difficult questions for the role of the law in the future management of biodiversity. This thorough, thought-provoking and timely text breaks new ground in addressing key problems raised by modern environmental policy, and exploring solutions.’
– Chris Rodgers, Newcastle University, UK

‘This book is a useful resource to guide the strategic application and design of market-based biodiversity conservation measures to minimise risks and maximize outcomes as far as possible.’
– Environmental Law and Management