Determining non-market benefits in environmental management in the sugar industry: concepts and applications

Mallawaarachchi, Thilak, and Jacobsen, Ben (2000) Determining non-market benefits in environmental management in the sugar industry: concepts and applications. Proceedings of the Australian Society of Sugar Cane Technologists, 22. pp. 308-314.

[img] PDF (Published Version) - Published Version
Restricted to Repository staff only

View at Publisher Website: http://www.assct.com.au/assct_main.php?p...
 
3


Abstract

Long-term profitability of sugarcane production systems is dependent on the management of natural resources that support industry output. An increasing scarcity of quality arable land. environmental problems associated with intensive farming, and differences of opinion among different kinds of land users are affecting industry decisions. Unlike the income from sugar sales, the benefits of environmental management are hard to quantify. Resource economists have identified several categories of non-market values in attempting to evaluate environmental assets. These economic measures of environmental value are based on the principle of scarcity and their estimation involves identifying trade-offs and balancing competing objectives. Establishing such values allows discussion of natural resource policy in terms of balancing the benefits and costs to the community, private individuals and industry of developing land for cane production or retaining it as a conservation area. This paper explains the economic basis for environmental valuation and demonstrates how the value estimates derived by economists can help the sugar industry in managing its environmental responsibilities. Recent Choice Modelling studies conducted in the Herbert River District, as well as a Contingent Valuation study in the Innisfail District, are used to demonstrate the concepts and their application in land use planning.

Item ID: 13001
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 0726-0822
Keywords: economics; environmental management; sugar industry; valuation
Date Deposited: 16 Jul 2013 04:54
FoR Codes: 07 AGRICULTURAL AND VETERINARY SCIENCES > 0703 Crop and Pasture Production > 070302 Agronomy @ 51%
14 ECONOMICS > 1402 Applied Economics > 140201 Agricultural Economics @ 49%
SEO Codes: 82 PLANT PRODUCTION AND PLANT PRIMARY PRODUCTS > 8203 Industrial Crops > 820304 Sugar @ 51%
96 ENVIRONMENT > 9605 Ecosystem Assessment and Management > 960505 Ecosystem Assessment and Management of Forest and Woodlands Environments @ 49%
Downloads: Total: 3
More Statistics

Actions (Repository Staff Only)

Item Control Page Item Control Page