Background is provided on the nature of environmental and resource economics and its origins. The main current view of environmental/resource economists about the concept of sustainable development is outlined and the implications of this view for decision-making about optimal resource-use,...

Several different concepts of sustainable development exist in the literature (Tisdell, 1993, Ch. 9). However, it seems that no matter which of these concepts is adopted conservation of biological diversity is necessary for its achievement, even though there is room for argument •about the...

Considerable loss of biodiversity has been occurring in China as in most developing countries and threats to biodiversity are increasing because of China's rapid rate of economic growth. China is therefore developing and considering plans and policies, with assistance from international-...

Historically, tourism in India has been important and in fact is encouraged by Hindu scriptures. Nevertheless, international tourism to India and South Asia generally has languished in recent times in contrast to the growth of international tourism in the Asia-Pacific which has experienced the...

International aid and funding agencies usually receive more requests to support conservation proposals than can be supported by their available funds and therefore have to rank these. A checklist of questions or factors which may be taken into account by funding agencies in prioritising...

The global economic system is characterised by international specialisation in production, massive amounts of production and trade in goods and services and the presence of international flows of finance, capital and technology. The system is bound together by the use of money and markets which...

Various definitions of ecotourism exist in the literature. The definition of ecotourism is important for determining the boundary of the ecotourism industry and its economic value. However, the extent to which ecotourism can be separated from tourism generally or the extent to which a separate...

With growing interest in conservation and growing incomes, nature-based tourism has grown rapidly. However, there are some differences in views about what constitutes nature-based tourism or ecotourism and these are briefly discussed. Then some estimates of the economic value of ecotourism are...

Considerable public funding is provided for research and development intended to improve the management and use of shared natural resources, such as water. In Australia the Land and Water Research and Development Corporation (LWRRDC) and Environment Australia are significant providers of such...

This paper explores the way in which the stated willingness to pay for the conservation of Asian elephants in Sri Lanka varies with hypothetical variations in their abundance. To do that, it relies on results from a sample of residents of Colombo. The willingness to pay function is found to be...