Profit efficiency and habitat biodiversity: The case of upland livestock farmers in Ireland

• Thomas M. van Rensburg ^[1] ; Elias Mulugeta ^[2]
  1. [1] National University of Ireland

     National University of Ireland

     Irlanda

     
  2. [2] Agri Food and Biosciences Institute

     Agri Food and Biosciences Institute

     Reino Unido

     
• Localización: Land use policy: The International Journal Covering All Aspects of Land Use, ISSN 0264-8377, ISSN-e 1873-5754, Nº. 54, 2016, págs. 200-211
• Idioma: inglés
• Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
• Resumen

  • This study evaluates the private economic value of biodiversity using original farm habitat data and farm household survey data from livestock farms in the hills and uplands of Ireland. Profit efficiency and biodiversity efficiency are estimated using a stochastic translog production frontier model. Results indicate that biodiversity plays a beneficial role in farm profitability but the effect is non-linear. Stocking rate and the perimeter to area ratio are found to have a negative effect on biodiversity while the number of plots per farm has a positive effect. Biodiversity efficiency is influenced by the number of livestock, habitat quality, spatial habitat patterns and arrangement, perimeter to area ratio, the number of plots, profit efficiency and farmer's education and age.