Policyscape—A Spatially Explicit Evaluation of Voluntary Conservation in a Policy Mix for Biodiversity Conservation in Norway

Abstract

We use spatially explicit indicators for biodiversity conservation status and opportunity costs of conservation to evaluate the role of voluntary forest conservation in a mix of policy instruments distributed across a landscape. We define a spatially explicit evaluation of a policy mix as a “policyscape analysis.” A policyscape analysis includes a comparison of (1) actual spatial overlap of instruments, (2) “functional overlap” of instruments in a cost-effectiveness space, and (3) complementary spatial targeting of instruments as computed by reserve site selection models. To illustrate, we evaluate the actual spatial coverage in cost-effectiveness space of Norway's public protected areas and private voluntary forest conservation. We use proxies for conservation value and opportunity cost—a national Nature Index for forests and forest productivity classes. We conclude by discussing the empirical challenges of our “policyscape analysis.” These have bearing on future “return-on-investment” analysis and reserve site selection modeling in Norway.

Keywords:

• biodiversity conservation
• cost-effectiveness
• economic instruments
• functional role
• payments for ecosystem services
• policy mix
• policyscape

Acknowledgments

We thank Vic Adamowicz for discussions on the policyscape framework and two anonymous reviewers for their comments. The authors acknowledge funding from the POLICYMIX project (http:nina.policymix.no) funded by the European Commission, Directorate General for Research, within the 7th Framework Programme of RTD, Theme 2—Biotechnology, Agriculture & Food (grant 244065).

Notes

We thank Vic Adamowicz for this observation.

Some voluntary nature reserves that are adjacent to previously existing PA, they are mapped together (but they have separate identifiers). Voluntary nature reserves that are not adjacent to other PA are mapped by themselves.

An appendix discusses limitations of the Norwegian NI in further detail.