How risk-diversification for conservation investment is affected by the real estate market shock triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic

Real-estate prices have soared since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic amid historically low mortgage rates and limited supply. The external shock observed in the real-estate market through relief measures may trigger changes in optimal conservation portfolios. The objective of this research is to identify the impacts of the real-estate market shock triggered by the pandemic through low-interest rates and limited real-estate supply on risk-diversification strategies for land conservation investment and to understand the implications of these impacts. We use a case study involving biodiversity conservation in the central and southern Appalachian region of the US by comparing modern portfolio theory (MPT) outputs using future conservation cost predictions with and without the shock. We find that the financial burden to fund the same level of risk-diversifying conservation benefits increases due to the shock and increases at an increasing rate as the return on investment (ROI) objective rises. This finding is alarming since higher conservation costs triggered by the shock decrease the cost-effectiveness of risk diversification, and this effect exacerbates with the goal of achieving higher ROI. Spatial diversification strategies with and without the shock offer risk-diversification information to help conservation organizations determine effective investment strategies.

Effects of COVID-19 on Global Financial Markets: Evidence from Qualitative Research for Developed and Developing Economies.

The research aims to prioritize the pandemic's impact on the financial markets of developed and developing economies using a multi-criteria decision-making approach. The results revealed that COVID-19's pandemic effects on financial markets differ between developed and developing nations. COVID-19 pandemic affects developed countries' financial markets more through supply reduction, demand reduction, and economic instability. Regarding developing nations, confidence and expectations, changes in consumption patterns, and the bandwagon effect are the three most significant impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on financial markets. The best decisions to lower the effect of COVID-19 pandemic on developed nations' financial markets are the declaration of the stimulus package and support of small-and-medium-sized enterprises. Contrastingly, in developing countries, support for vulnerable households and declaration of the stimulus package are the best decisions to combat COVID-19's negative impact on their financial markets. As practical policy implications for lowering COVID-19's negative impact on financial markets, the promotion of new financing instruments, reconstruction of the relationship between public and private sectors, and support of vulnerable households and enterprises are highly recommended.

La recherche vise à hiérarchiser l'impact de la pandémie sur les marchés financiers des économies développées et en développement en utilisant une approche décisionnelle à plusieurs critères. Les résultats ont révélé que les effets du COVID-19 sur les marchés financiers diffèrent entre les nations développées et en développement. Le COVID-19 affecte davantage les marchés financiers des pays développés par la réduction de l'offre, la réduction de la demande et l'instabilité économique. En ce qui concerne les pays en développement, la confiance et les attentes, les changements dans les habitudes de consommation et l'effet boule de neige sont les trois impacts les plus significatifs causé par le COVID-19 sur les marchés financiers. Les meilleures décisions pour réduire l'effet du COVID-19 sur les marchés financiers des pays développés ont été la déclaration de plans de relance et le soutien aux petites et moyennes entreprises. En revanche, dans les pays en développement, le soutien aux ménages vulnérables et la déclaration de plans de relance apparaissent comme les meilleures décisions pour combattre l'impact négatif du COVID-19 sur leurs marchés financiers. En ce qui concerne les implications politiques pratiques pour réduire l'impact négatif du COVID-19 sur les marchés financiers, la promotion de nouveaux instruments de financement, la reconstruction de la relation entre les secteurs public et privé, et le soutien des ménages et des entreprises les plus vulnérables sont fortement recommandés.

An analysis of threats, strategies, and opportunities for African rhinoceros conservation.

The complexity and magnitude of threats to black (Diceros bicornis) and white (Ceratotherium simum) rhinoceros conservation in Africa have triggered global concerns and actions. In this study, we analyzed (i) threats to rhinoceros conservation including external shocks, (ii) historical rhinoceros conservation strategies in Zimbabwe and Africa, more broadly, and (iii) opportunities for enhanced rhinoceros conservation in Zimbabwe and Africa. A literature search from 1975 to 2020 was carried out using a predefined search protocol, involving a number of filters based on a set of keywords to balance search sensitivity with specificity. A total of 193 articles, which were most relevant to key themes on rhinoceros conservation, were used in this study. The common threats to rhinoceros conservation identified in this paper include poaching, habitat fragmentation and loss, international trade in illegal rhino products, and external shocks such as global financial recessions and pandemics. Cascading effects emanating from these threats include small and isolated populations, which are prone to genetic, demographic, and environmental uncertainties. Rhinoceros conservation strategies being implemented include education and awareness campaigns, better equipped and more antipoaching efforts, use of innovative systems and technologies, dehorning, and enhancing safety nets, and livelihoods of local communities. Opportunities for rhinoceros conservation vary across the spatial scale, and these include (a) a well-coordinated stakeholder and community involvement, (b) strategic meta-population management, (c) enhancing law enforcement initiatives through incorporating real-time surveillance technologies and intruder detection sensor networks for crime detection, (d) scaling up demand reduction awareness campaigns, and (e) developing more certified wildlife crime and forensic laboratories, and information repository for international corporation.