Genetic diversity and its value: conservation genetics meets economics

Noël Bonneuil (1, 2) , Raouf Boucekkine (3, 4)

1 EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales
2 INED - Institut national d'études démographiques
3 AMSE - Aix-Marseille Sciences Economiques
4 IUF - Institut Universitaire de France

Does drawing economic benefit from nature impinge on conservation? This has been a subject of controversy in the literature. The article presents a management method to overcome this possible dilemma, and reconcile conservation biology with economics. It is based on recent advances in the mathematical theory of dynamic systems under viability constraints. In the case of a one-locus two-allele plant coexisting with a one-locus two-allele parasite, the method provides a rule for deciding when and to what extent the resistant or the susceptible strain should be cultivated, in the uncertain time-varying presence of the parasite. This is useful for preventing the fixation of the susceptible allele - and thereby limiting the plant's vulnerability in the medium term, should the parasite reappear. The method thus provides an aid to decision for economic and ecology-friendly profitability.

Keywords: Genetic resistance; C-viability; Sustainability; Genetic diversity; Genetic distance

Domains: Humanities and Social Sciences; Economics and Finance; Mathematics [math]

Noël Bonneuil, Raouf Boucekkine. Genetic diversity and its value: conservation genetics meets economics. Conservation Genetics Resources, 2020, 12 (1), pp.141-151. ⟨10.1007/s12686-019-01113-y⟩. ⟨hal-02417600⟩