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Biodiversity policies promote the protection, conservation, and sustainable use of biologically diverse ecosystems and habitats. In doing so, they create significant public benefits and contribute to social well-being. However, the implementation of biodiversity policies will often benefit different groups to a greater or lesser degree. At times, some groups in society lose out under certain policies. For example, in establishing a property right to facilitate management of a biodiversity-related resource, people who previously had unrestricted use will be adversely affected. The source of these distributive effects lies in the policies' objectives, and the choice and implementation of policy instruments.
Distributive effects influence the viability of biodiversity policies. Significant negative impacts on specific groups can lead to policies being derailed, even if they make a large number of people better off. With sufficient planning, however, potential problems can be identified and their effect assessed: strategies can be developed to manage the distribution of impacts and ensure buy-in from negatively affected groups.
Combining analysis and a wealth of case studies, this book offers concepts and tools for addressing distributive issues within a biodiversity policy context. It will help policy makers put together strategies for anticipating distributive impacts across different groups; and for selecting processes and instruments that manage distributive impacts without compromising conservation and use objectives.
