The opportunity cost of conservation: a case study from Colombia

In a compelling new research paper titled “An investment strategy to address biodiversity loss from agricultural expansion,” Colombia becomes the first case study on how to balance biodiversity goals with limited economic resources. Camila Guerrero-Pineda, a graduate student at ASU, led this exciting project alongside Dr. Leah Gerber and Dr. Gwen Iacona. Their results–published in the prestigious journal Nature Sustainability–suggest that significant investment into conservation must be made in Colombia in order to counteract and prevent further biodiversity loss. This approach can be applied to other countries and contexts, making it an invaluable scientific contribution. To read the full ASU News story, click here.