Exploring private financing for biodiversity conservation: stakeholder perspectives and governance in the case of wildflower strips in Germany
This study explores the understudied role of privately financed ecosystem service provision in biodiversity conservation, focusing on the example of wildflower strips in Germany. Using qualitative methods, it investigates the diversity of private financing schemes, stakeholder involvement, scheme im...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Ecosystems and People |
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| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/26395916.2024.2420068 |
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| author | Hannah Bücheler Claudia Bieling Arndt Feuerbacher |
| author_facet | Hannah Bücheler Claudia Bieling Arndt Feuerbacher |
| author_sort | Hannah Bücheler |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study explores the understudied role of privately financed ecosystem service provision in biodiversity conservation, focusing on the example of wildflower strips in Germany. Using qualitative methods, it investigates the diversity of private financing schemes, stakeholder involvement, scheme implementation and farmers motivations to engage in private schemes. The results draw on literature-based stakeholder analysis and expert interviews, including ecologists and practitioners, in three German federal states: Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria and Lower Saxony. Findings include a stakeholder map, the identification of four types of private financing schemes, and the formulation of 17 design criteria covering ecological, economic, and social aspects. These criteria aim to guide providers and sponsors and to emphasise the diverse nature of private wildflower strip financing schemes and their role as crucial links among farmers, the private sector, and society. The study highlights private schemes as viable alternatives to public funding but raises concerns about quality control and coordination with public measures. Combining publicly funded agri-environment schemes with private financing is controversial among stakeholders. Government intervention could formalise the private market, improving control and protection, possibly limiting private sector flexibility and attractiveness due to higher levels of bureaucracy. In any case, transparency in management and financial structures is crucial. Policy recommendations overall include incentivising private sector conservation involvement, offering tax credits for private financing, improving government mechanisms, streamlining coordination of public and private conservation at the landscape level and fostering stakeholder networking. Consequently, this study lays a foundational framework for further exploration into the realm of private financing in biodiversity conservation. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-127ab33bb0464b27bf66c874577cbeb0 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2639-5908 2639-5916 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecosystems and People |
| spelling | doaj-art-127ab33bb0464b27bf66c874577cbeb02025-08-20T02:50:45ZengTaylor & Francis GroupEcosystems and People2639-59082639-59162024-12-0120110.1080/26395916.2024.2420068Exploring private financing for biodiversity conservation: stakeholder perspectives and governance in the case of wildflower strips in GermanyHannah Bücheler0Claudia Bieling1Arndt Feuerbacher2Department of Ecological-economic Policy Modelling, Institute of Agricultural Policy and Agricultural Markets, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, GermanyDepartment of Societal Transition and Agriculture, Institute of Social Sciences in Agriculture, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, GermanyDepartment of Ecological-economic Policy Modelling, Institute of Agricultural Policy and Agricultural Markets, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, GermanyThis study explores the understudied role of privately financed ecosystem service provision in biodiversity conservation, focusing on the example of wildflower strips in Germany. Using qualitative methods, it investigates the diversity of private financing schemes, stakeholder involvement, scheme implementation and farmers motivations to engage in private schemes. The results draw on literature-based stakeholder analysis and expert interviews, including ecologists and practitioners, in three German federal states: Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria and Lower Saxony. Findings include a stakeholder map, the identification of four types of private financing schemes, and the formulation of 17 design criteria covering ecological, economic, and social aspects. These criteria aim to guide providers and sponsors and to emphasise the diverse nature of private wildflower strip financing schemes and their role as crucial links among farmers, the private sector, and society. The study highlights private schemes as viable alternatives to public funding but raises concerns about quality control and coordination with public measures. Combining publicly funded agri-environment schemes with private financing is controversial among stakeholders. Government intervention could formalise the private market, improving control and protection, possibly limiting private sector flexibility and attractiveness due to higher levels of bureaucracy. In any case, transparency in management and financial structures is crucial. Policy recommendations overall include incentivising private sector conservation involvement, offering tax credits for private financing, improving government mechanisms, streamlining coordination of public and private conservation at the landscape level and fostering stakeholder networking. Consequently, this study lays a foundational framework for further exploration into the realm of private financing in biodiversity conservation.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/26395916.2024.2420068Ram PanditFlower stripprivate sector engagementdesign criteriaecosystem service provisionbiodiversity enhancement |
| spellingShingle | Hannah Bücheler Claudia Bieling Arndt Feuerbacher Exploring private financing for biodiversity conservation: stakeholder perspectives and governance in the case of wildflower strips in Germany Ecosystems and People Ram Pandit Flower strip private sector engagement design criteria ecosystem service provision biodiversity enhancement |
| title | Exploring private financing for biodiversity conservation: stakeholder perspectives and governance in the case of wildflower strips in Germany |
| title_full | Exploring private financing for biodiversity conservation: stakeholder perspectives and governance in the case of wildflower strips in Germany |
| title_fullStr | Exploring private financing for biodiversity conservation: stakeholder perspectives and governance in the case of wildflower strips in Germany |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring private financing for biodiversity conservation: stakeholder perspectives and governance in the case of wildflower strips in Germany |
| title_short | Exploring private financing for biodiversity conservation: stakeholder perspectives and governance in the case of wildflower strips in Germany |
| title_sort | exploring private financing for biodiversity conservation stakeholder perspectives and governance in the case of wildflower strips in germany |
| topic | Ram Pandit Flower strip private sector engagement design criteria ecosystem service provision biodiversity enhancement |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/26395916.2024.2420068 |
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