Why is every conservation choice an optimization problem? Being an environmental economist, I am biased in advocating for development paths that prioritize social and financial returns alongside rigorous environmental conservation. However, the question I have…
The multiple effects of protected area tourism Protected areas are often viewed solely as conservation units. However, when they allow visitors, they can generate important additional benefits for local economies. When a tourist visits…
Natural capital accounting: correcting the structural flaw in GDP measurement There are many debates surrounding the use of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as the primary measure of a country’s economic health. Here, we will focus…
Why are some farmers still reluctant to adopt climate change adaptation measures? As COP30 approaches (November 2025, Belém, Brazil), global attention turns again to the challenge of financing climate adaptation. Agriculture sits at the center…
The Economics of Pollination Services Recently, I came across a program describing farmers in southern Brazil renting beehives to pollinate their orchards. The topic caught my attention, as it illustrates a case of how ecosystem…
Why should the private sector invest in nature? From an economic perspective, conservation has the characteristics of a public good. Its benefits—such as climate regulation, biodiversity protection, and water security—are shared broadly, while the costs…
Paths to Reducing Plastic Pollution: Current Debate and What is Missing A lot has been said about plastic pollution and how to address it. There is broad consensus among researchers and policymakers that plastic pollution…
Resource Competition: Old Challenge, New Solutions Resource competition—over land, water, forests, minerals, and more—has always been at the heart of both ecological systems and human societies. While this challenge is not new, it remains as…
The relationship between environmental valuation and financial mechanisms I’m currently working on a project to value ecosystem services and create ways to fund their protection. While working on this project, I’ve noticed that the relationship…
Why Economics Matters in Conservation Although the use of economic tools in conservation has grown in recent years, conservation is still often approached primarily through the lens of ecology, biology, and the urgency of preserving…