Are bilateral conservation policies for the Białowieża forest unattainable? Analysis of stated preferences of Polish and Belarusian public

A discrete choice experiment reveals that Polish citizens are significantly more willing to support increased conservation efforts within their domestic segment of the Białowieża Forest compared to Belarusian citizens, who largely prefer maintaining the status quo. This unilateral preference suggests potential challenges in implementing bilateral conservation policies for this transboundary UNESCO World Heritage Site. The study identifies a distinct group within Poland that supports transboundary cooperation, contrasting with non-cooperative groups on both sides of the border. These findings highlight possible barriers to collaborative conservation efforts, including perceived differences in welfare or behavioral factors, and question whether the forest is viewed as a shared public good by both populations.

Valasiuk, S., Czajkowski, M., Giergiczny, M., Żylicz, T., Veisten, K., Elbakidze, M., & Angelstam, P. (2017). Are bilateral conservation policies for the Białowieża forest unattainable? Analysis of stated preferences of Polish and Belarusian public. Journal of Forest Economics, 27, 70–79. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfe.2017.03.001