Research

"The conservation paradox"

Abstract: The extent to which nature conservation reduces environmental degradation depends on its degree of additionality in conserved areas and its spillover effects on surrounding areas. This paper studies the net effect of national parks on land-use change in Norway using high-resolution spatial data on pristine nature. Due to low additionality and dominant spillover effects in nearby areas, national parks cause a net decrease in pristine nature. Higher revenues in the tourism sector and population growth suggest that increased tourism is the likely mechanism. National parks can achieve several policy goals, such as economic redistribution to rural areas and increased nature-based tourism. Reducing land-use change is not one of them.