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Risk aversion hinders forestry professionals to adapt to climate change

Author

Listed:
  • M. Brunette

    (BETA
    Associate researcher at the Climate Economics Chair (CEC))

  • M. Hanewinkel

    (University of Freiburg)

  • R. Yousefpour

    (University of Freiburg)

Abstract

Forestry professionals’ attitudes towards risk and uncertainty under climate change, together with their perception about suitability of adaptation strategies, were investigated in Central Europe. We applied an original methodology based on lottery choices to quantify their risk and uncertainty attitude, combined with a questionnaire study about the adaptation to climate change. We tested the hypothesis that the higher the risk and uncertainty aversion of respondents, the higher the trend towards changing business-as-usual to adaptive decisions. The result falsifies the research hypothesis since uncertainty aversion has no effect, whereas risk aversion has a negative impact on the decision to adapt. We argue that risk of any change in the business-as-usual is higher than the expected risk of climate change impact in Central European forestry. We conclude that having access to novel information about expected impacts of climate change, taking into account institutional challenges and supportive experiences about useful adaptation strategies, may convince forestry professionals to adapt in the future.

Suggested Citation

  • M. Brunette & M. Hanewinkel & R. Yousefpour, 2020. "Risk aversion hinders forestry professionals to adapt to climate change," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 162(4), pages 2157-2180, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:climat:v:162:y:2020:i:4:d:10.1007_s10584-020-02751-0
    DOI: 10.1007/s10584-020-02751-0
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    Cited by:

    1. Roitsch, Dennis & Abruscato, Silvia & Lovrić, Marko & Lindner, Marcus & Orazio, Christophe & Winkel, Georg, 2023. "Close-to-nature forestry and intensive forestry – Two response patterns of forestry professionals towards climate change adaptation," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    2. Julie Thomas & Marielle Brunette & Antoine Leblois, 2021. "Adapting forest management practices to climate change : Lessons from a survey of French private forest owners," Working Papers hal-03142772, HAL.
    3. Hallberg-Sramek, Isabella & Nordström, Eva-Maria & Priebe, Janina & Reimerson, Elsa & Mårald, Erland & Nordin, Annika, 2023. "Combining scientific and local knowledge improves evaluating future scenarios of forest ecosystem services," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 60(C).
    4. Bastit, Félix & Brunette, Marielle & Montagné-Huck, Claire, 2023. "Pests, wind and fire: A multi-hazard risk review for natural disturbances in forests," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 205(C).
    5. Gerling, Charlotte & Schöttker, Oliver & Hearne, John, 2022. "The ”climate adaptation problem” in biodiversity conservation: the role of reversible conservation investments in optimal reserve design under climate change," MPRA Paper 114812, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Knoke, Thomas & Gosling, Elizabeth & Thom, Dominik & Chreptun, Claudia & Rammig, Anja & Seidl, Rupert, 2021. "Economic losses from natural disturbances in Norway spruce forests – A quantification using Monte-Carlo simulations," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 185(C).
    7. Gerling, Charlotte & Schöttker, Oliver & Hearne, John, 2022. "Keep it or Leave it - the Role of Reversible Conservation Investments in Optimal Reserve Design under Climate Change," VfS Annual Conference 2022 (Basel): Big Data in Economics 264058, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.
    8. Thomas, J. & Brunette, M. & Leblois, A., 2022. "The determinants of adapting forest management practices to climate change: Lessons from a survey of French private forest owners," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 135(C).
    9. Janová, Jitka & Hampel, David & Kadlec, Jiří & Vrška, Tomáš, 2022. "Motivations behind the forest managers’ decision making about mixed forests in the Czech Republic," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    10. Gerling, Charlotte & Schöttker, Oliver & Hearne, John, 2022. "Optimal time series in the reserve design problem under climate change," MPRA Paper 114691, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    11. Hashida, Yukiko & Lewis, David J., 2022. "Estimating welfare impacts of climate change using a discrete-choice model of land management: An application to western U.S. forestry," Resource and Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    12. Gerling, Charlotte & Schöttker, Oliver & Hearne, John, 2022. "Irreversible and partly reversible investments in the optimal reserve design problem: the role of flexibility under climate change," MPRA Paper 112089, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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