On the Optimal Exploitation of Terrestrial Animal Species

The paper analyses the social optimal management of terrestrial animal species where land-use costs, non-consumptive benefits of the wild species and nuisance costs, in addition to harvesting profit, are taken into account. When there is harvesting, it is demonstrated that increased profitability of the alternative land-use activities will result in less animals and habitat land in the long-term. It is also shown that the price effect of the harvesting works different compared to the traditional Clark-model of marine resources. Because most terrestrial species represent no harvesting profit and are not harvested, the non-harvesting case is also analysed. Also now will improved profitability in the competing activities of keeping animals be a threat to the wild species as it triggers land-use conversion. Moreover, in absence of harvesting profit, there are no potential counteracting forces due to the existence of harvesting profit. Copyright Kluwer Academic Publishers 1999