Protecting Species through Legislation: The Case of Sea Turtles

Abstract

We evaluate the effectiveness of legislation in reducing the negative impacts of beachfront lighting on sea turtle nesting activity, one of the main threats to the species. To this end we construct a time varying index of ordinance effectiveness across Florida counties and combine this with loggerhead nesting data to create a panel data set covering a twenty-six year period. Our econometric findings show that such legislation can significantly increase nesting activity, where current levels of protection result in an additional 34%. Using our estimates within a calibrated population model we also demonstrate that legislation can reduce the time to the animals' extinction. Finally, when considering estimates of local willingness to pay for sea turtle preservation, we show that alternatively raising sea turtles in captivity under a head start program may be prohibitively expensive.

On the Mismatches between the Monetary and Social Values of Air Purification in the Colombian Andean Region: A Case Study

“…Numerous value articulating methods have been applied for ES valuation, from the viewpoint of the beneficiaries' subjective appreciation [63][64][65][66]. New developments include the integration of indigenous and local knowledge systems and practices [67], the development of integrative frameworks [68], and the comparative study of methods' capacities to capture plural values [33,60].…”

“…New developments include the integration of indigenous and local knowledge systems and practices [67], the development of integrative frameworks [68], and the comparative study of methods' capacities to capture plural values [33,60]. In order to address these issues, not only is there a need to develop proper assessment methods, but also to disclose the theoretical basics of this assessment, and which trade-offs go hand-in-hand with different assessment types [63][64][65]. Completely new issues for the valuation of ecosystem services and natural capital arise with the development of new tools.…”

Twenty Key Challenges in Environmental and Resource Economics

“…How biodiversity and natural capital should be measured, which societal, political and economic values underlie different measures and valuation and how ecological and economical tradeoffs should be dealt with are big challenges left for future research. In order to address these issues, not only do we need to develop appropriate assessment methods, but we also need to disclose the theoretical basics of this assessment and which trade-offs go hand in hand with different assessments (Brei et al 2020;Antoci et al 2019;Drupp 2018). Completely new issues for the valuation of biodiversity and natural capital arise with the development of new technologies.…”

“…In order to address these issues, not only do we need to develop appropriate assessment methods, but we also need to disclose the theoretical basics of this assessment and which trade-offs go hand in hand with different assessments (Brei et al. 2020 ; Antoci et al. 2019 ; Drupp 2018 ).…”

Sea Turtle Protection: A Case Study of Protected Sea Turtle Capture in Gunungkidul Regency, Indonesia

“…The population of these marine turtles is widely believed to be decreasing at an alarming rate worldwide and threatened by several factors, including entanglement in fishing gear, poaching and illegal trade of eggs, meat, and shells, ocean pollution, and coastal development. [1] Moreover, in areas, turtle meat has become a luxury item for the honored guest [2], so that the harvest from nature has increased over time.…”