RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Multiple-Knapsack Optimization in Land Conservation: Results from the First Cost-effective Conservation Program in the United States JF Land Economics JO Land Econ FD University of Wisconsin Press SP 117 OP 130 DO 10.3368/le.92.1.117 VO 92 IS 1 A1 Messer, Kent D. A1 Kecinski, Maik A1 Tang, Xing A1 Hirsch, Robert H. YR 2016 UL http://le.uwpress.org/content/92/1/117.abstract AB Conservation groups often piece together their parcel selections by combining funds from multiple sources. When applying multiple-knapsack optimization, substantial increases in conservation benefits, acreage, and number of parcels preserved can be achieved. Specifically, we show that multiple-knapsack optimization substantially outperforms benefit targeting, cost-effectiveness analysis, and sequential binary integer programming. This study uses data from the first known cost-effective land conservation program in the United States—in Baltimore County, Maryland—and shows that multiple-knapsack optimization can deliver additional benefits. (JEL D61, Q24)