Eco-restoration, private landowners and overcoming the status quo bias. Issue 2 (3rd April 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Telesetsky, Anastasia
• Is Part Of: Griffith law review. Volume 26:Issue 2(2017)
• Page Start: 248
• Page End: 274
• Publication Date: 2017-04-03
• Subjects: Ecological restoration -- private land -- status quo bias -- landscape-level restoration -- private actors; Law -- Australia -- Periodicals; Law reviews -- Australia -- Periodicals; 349.94
• DOI: 10.1080/10383441.2017.1355770
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1038-3441

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Restoration by private actors on private lands is essential for achieving landscape-level restoration ('eco-restoration'). This article identifies a typology of private actors presently involved in eco-restoration including philanthropists, indigenous people, non-governmental organisations, multi-stakeholder collaborations, and corporations and suggests motivations for these actors to engage in restoration activities. The article observes that an 'inactive majority' of private landowners is not involved in restoration efforts. Acknowledging that a lack of information may be contributing partially to the lack of landowner involvement, this article suggests another theory for non-involvement and apathy: the status quo bias. The paper concludes with a slate of policy suggestions for how the status quo bias might be addressed for private landowners who have the means to engage in restoration but do not currently do so.