Ecological-Economic Modelling for Biodiversity Conservation

Description

Ecologists and economists both use models to help develop strategies for biodiversity management. The practical use of disciplinary models, however, can be limited because ecological models tend not to address the socioeconomic dimension of biodiversity management, whereas economic models tend to neglect the ecological dimension. Given these shortcomings of disciplinary models, there is a necessity to combine ecological and economic knowledge into ecological-economic models. Gradually guiding the reader into the field of ecological-economic modelling by introducing mathematical models and their role in general, this book provides an overview on ecological and economic modelling approaches relevant for research in the field of biodiversity conservation. It discusses the advantages of and challenges associated with ecological-economic modelling, together with an overview of useful ways of integration. Although being a book about mathematical modelling, ecological and economic concepts play an equally important role, making it accessible for readers from very different disciplinary backgrounds.

Martin Drechsler is a Senior Scientist at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ , Germany. His research includes the mathematical modelling of populations in fragmented and dynamic landscapes, the mathematical ecological-economic analysis of instruments and strategies for biodiversity conservation, the model-based assessment of renewable energy deployment, and mathematical optimization and decision theory. He originally trained as a physicist, which provided him with the necessary mathematical background to understand, develop and analyse mathematical models. Twenty years ago, he started collaborating with economists to contribute to the development of the research field of ecological-economic modelling. In the field of ecological-economic modelling he is one of the most productive authors.