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An Evaluation of Protected Area Policies in the European Union

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Listed:
  • Grupp, Tristan Earle
  • Mishra, Prakash
  • Reynaert, Mathias
  • van Benthem, Arthur

Abstract

The European Union designates 26% of its landmass as a protected area, limiting economic development to favor biodiversity. This paper uses the staggered introduction of protected-area policies between 1985 and 2020 to study the selection of land for protection and the causal effect of protection on vegetation cover and nightlights. Our results reveal protection did not affect the outcomes in any meaningful way across four decades, all countries, protection cohorts, and a wide range of land and climate attributes. We conclude that European conservation efforts lack ambition because policymakers select land for protection not threatened by development.

Suggested Citation

  • Grupp, Tristan Earle & Mishra, Prakash & Reynaert, Mathias & van Benthem, Arthur, 2023. "An Evaluation of Protected Area Policies in the European Union," CEPR Discussion Papers 18656, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:18656
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    Cited by:

    1. is not listed on IDEAS
    2. Reynaert, Mathias & Souza-Rodrigues, Eduardo & van Benthem, Arthur A., 2024. "The environmental impacts of protected area policy," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 107(C).
    3. Beverdam, Jesper & Hubacek, Klaus & Scholtens, Bert & Sijtsma, Frans, 2025. "Improving biodiversity resilience requires both public and private finance: A life-cycle analysis of biodiversity finance," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 234(C).
    4. Qiaoqiao Zhan & Katsunori Furuya & Xiaolan Tang & Zhehui Li, 2024. "Policy Development in China’s Protected Scenic and Historic Areas," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-24, February.
    5. Evaluator 1, 2024. "Evaluation 1 of "Does Conservation Work in General Equilibrium"," The Unjournal Evaluations 2024-131, The Unjournal.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • Q23 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Renewable Resources and Conservation - - - Forestry
    • Q24 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Renewable Resources and Conservation - - - Land
    • Q57 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Ecological Economics
    • R14 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Land Use Patterns

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