Markets for biodiversity services: Potential roles and challenges

This article discusses the current crisis in financing for biodiversity conservation. The public sector has traditionally had responsibility for protecting environmental services. However, declining funding for governments and international conservation organizations, as well as changing trends in governance structures toward greater devolution and decentralization, necessitate that the private sector become involved in conservation. Currently there are few to no incentives for private sector involvement; this article discusses the possibilities for developing financial incentives to fund the protection and ongoing provision of environmental services.