The economic value of biodiversity

Project idea:

For this call, I'm interesting in joining a partnership to help evaluate and monetize the socioeconomic benefits of nature (biodiversity) conservation, restoration and enhancement - as well as the costs of inaction and the unintended consequences of action. These issues need to be studied considering current and future challenges (urbanization, climate change, etc.) and taking into account key global and European biodiversity conservation targets (set e.g. by the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, the EU biodiversity strategy for 2030, the EU Green Deal, the EU nature restoration law etc.).

The results of this research are useful to equip public and private decision-makers with the critical – but still missing – evidence needed to prioritise interventions that align environmental and socio-economic goals, evaluate the economic trade-offs related to alternative pathways of action, and overcome the behavioural barriers to implementation.

About me:

I'm an Associate Professor in Economics at the University of Trento (Italy) with expertise in environmental economics.

My research focuses on the trade-offs and complementarities between economics and the environment, in particular, the factors limiting or encouraging sustainable behavioural choices and public support for nature. My research covers the study of society's preferences for ecosystem conservation, restoration, offsetting, environmental net gain and nature-based solutions; the economic valuation of biodiversity and wider ecosystem services; and natural capital accounting. I'm additionally interested in studying how choices, preferences and behaviour are sensitive to risks and uncertainty, different time horizons, equity targets, environmental stressors, etc. to design robust incentives that are nature-positive and economically viable. Methodologically, my research relies on quantitative economic surveys and experimental approaches.