@phdthesis{Roy2025, author = {Roy, Ashley Comma}, title = {Economic analysis of invasive alien species management : a case study of 𝘏𝘢𝘭𝘺𝘰𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘱𝘩𝘢 𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘺𝘴 in Germany}, doi = {10.26127/BTUOpen-7170}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:co1-opus4-71703}, school = {BTU Cottbus - Senftenberg}, year = {2025}, abstract = {Invasive alien species (IAS) are major drivers of biodiversity loss and impose rising economic costs. Global trade and climate change facilitate their spread and establishment, threatening agriculture, forestry, and fisheries. Despite recognition of these risks, economic consequences are often underestimated, delaying effective responses. IAS management requires balancing ecological, economic, and social considerations. This study addresses two objectives: (1) to quantify the economic costs of invasive alien species under current and projected climate scenarios, and (2) to evaluate public preferences for IAS management, focusing on the trade-offs between chemical and biological control strategies through a case study of the brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys) invasion in German apple orchards. To address the first objective, the study combined a logistic spread model based on climate suitability projections for 2022-2050 with an economic model to estimate invasion costs under four management scenarios: no control, chemical control, biological control, and integrated pest management (IPM). Results show that even early infestations can cause significant economic losses if unmanaged. By 2050, as more areas become suitable for pest establishment, invasion costs rise sharply, demonstrating that delayed intervention greatly increases both damages and resources needed to control the invasion. For the second objective, a discrete choice experiment was employed to understand the public preference for managing IAS using no control, chemical control, and biological control. Respondents strongly favored biological control, even with risks of invasiveness, and rejected no control as an option. Willingness to pay reached €2.32/kg for biological control, while chemical control received moderate support, mainly due to production concerns. Socio-demographic factors such as age, gender, education, income, political orientation, ecological involvement, and risk-taking shaped preferences. Political orientation proved significant: conservative and liberal respondents leaned toward chemical control, while ecologically oriented individuals preferred no intervention. Information framing also mattered: generalized descriptions increased support for biological control, while quantitative details revealed greater heterogeneity. These findings highlight the urgency of early IAS intervention and the need to integrate public preferences into policy. The study provides evidence for developing effective strategies to manage Halyomorpha halys and outlines avenues for future research.}, subject = {Invasion cost; Discrete choice experiment; Halyomorpha halys; German apple orchards; Invasive alien species; Invasionskosten; Discrete-Choice-Experiment; Deutsche Apfelplantagen; Invasive Arte; Deutschland; Obstanlage; Invasive Art; Baumwanzen; Kosten; Kontrolle; Diskrete Entscheidung}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Welling2024, author = {Welling, Malte}, title = {Choice experiments in the valuation of urban ecosystem services}, doi = {10.26127/BTUOpen-6651}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:co1-opus4-66510}, school = {BTU Cottbus - Senftenberg}, year = {2024}, abstract = {Cities are major contributors to climate change and biodiversity loss, and at the same time particularly affected by some of their consequences. Urban green can help address these challenges and provide numerous other benefits to people. Economic valuation can estimate the value that people assign to these diverse urban ecosystem services. The environmental economics literature uses several valuation methods. This work examines the valuation of urban ecosystem services with choice experiments. It includes five articles that use empirical analysis to address three overarching research goals: First, to improve understanding of the value of urban ecosystem services to urban residents. Second, to contribute to improving the validity of choice experiments. Third, to develop modeling of spatial patterns in the value of urban ecosystem services. Chapter 1 describes the background and motivation of the valuation of urban ecosystem services with choice experiments, gives an overview over the relevant literature, and sets out the research objectives and methods of this dissertation. Chapter 2 presents a choice experiment on green spaces, street trees and green roofs in Bremen. It analyzes the effect of additional information that these measures are part of a climate adaptation strategy. The results show greater willingness to pay among informed respondents. Part of the effect can be explained by a higher credibility of the survey. Chapter 3 describes a choice experiment on urban gardens in Berlin and Stuttgart. It explores how respondents process the information provided in the questionnaire. It finds that questions about the information do not significantly affect either recall or the responses in the choice experiment. Chapter 4 is based on choice experiments on street trees, green spaces, and greenways in four German cities. It examines how choice experiment surveys should elicit perceived consequentiality. The results show advantages of elicitation before the choice experiment over the usual elicitation afterwards. Chapter 5 explores how valid policy makers perceive the results of choice experiments on urban green in several German cities, and what consequences this has for their use of the results. Interviews show that most policy makers use the results in their city to raise awareness or justify positions. Perceptions of validity are mixed, but do not play a major role in this type of use. Chapter 6 examines the spatial distribution of the value of urban ecosystem services using choice experiments on green spaces, urban trees, green roofs, and green facades in Berlin and Leipzig. It develops and tests new choice models that may better represent than the common approach how the value of urban green space decreases with distance. Based on the findings of the articles, Chapter 7 derives recommendations for practitioners of choice experiments and for urban green policy makers. Finally, it identifies research gaps that would be promising for future studies.}, subject = {Urban green; Stated preferences; Economic valuation; Validity; Discrete choice experiment; Stadtgr{\"u}n; {\"O}konomische Bewertung; Validit{\"a}t; Deutschland; Stadt; Gr{\"u}nfl{\"a}che; Dachbegr{\"u}nung; Strassenbaum; Klimaschutz; {\"O}kosystemdienstleistung; Nutzwertanalyse; Umfrage; Wahrnehmung}, language = {en} }