Group decisions in biodiversity conservation: implications from game theory.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Decision analysis and game theory have proved useful tools in various biodiversity conservation planning and modeling contexts. This paper shows how game theory may be used to inform group decisions in biodiversity conservation scenarios by modeling conflicts between stakeholders to identify Pareto-inefficient Nash equilibria. These are cases in which each agent pursuing individual self-interest leads to a worse outcome for all, relative to other feasible outcomes. Three case studies from biodiversity conservation contexts showing this feature are modeled to demonstrate how game-theoretical representation can inform group decision-making.

Methodology and principal findings

The mathematical theory of games is used to model three biodiversity conservation scenarios

SUBMITTER: Frank DM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2877714 | biostudies-literature | 2010 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature