RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Military Readiness and Environmental Protection through Cost-effective Land Conservation
JF Land Economics
JO Land Econ
FD University of Wisconsin Press
SP 433
OP 449
DO 10.3368/le.92.3.433
VO 92
IS 3
A1 Messer, Kent D.
A1 Kecinski, Maik
A1 Liu, Zhou
A1 Korch, Mary A.
A1 Bounds, Thomas
YR 2016
UL http://le.uwpress.org/content/92/3/433.abstract
AB Harboring a high density of threatened and endangered species on its bases leaves the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) with a critical responsibility: establishing sound environmental policies while also continuing training and ensuring military readiness. This dual objective is the goal of the Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration program, a large conservation fund for military installations that is mandated to be cost-effective. Analyzing a unique DoD data set, we show that use of optimization models generates a 21% increase in military readiness and environmental protection or achieves the same benefits as benefit targeting at a cost saving of 37%. (JEL Q57, Q58)