Market Financing for Biodiversity Conservation and Strategic Tradeoffs for Wildlife-friendly Eco-labels

Abstract

Consumers buying products labeled "eco-friendly" may hope to help conserve the environment, yet the credibility of eco-labels varies. Wildlife conservation poses special challenges for eco-label claims because wild animal populations fluctuate naturally and field verification of impacts can be slow, complex, and costly. This brief defines three types of eco-labels according to their potential to conserve wildlife, and examines the obstacles to convincing consumers of eco-label claims.