Economics of a nest-box program for the conservation of an endangered species: a reappraisal

An optimization model is developed to identify timing and placement strateg ies for the installation of nest boxes and the harvesting of timber to meet joint timber-wildlife objectives. Optimal management regimes are determine d on the basis of their impacts on the local abundance of a threatened spec ies and net present value (NPV) and are identified for a range of NPV level s to identify production possibility frontiers for abundance and NPV. We ap ply the model to a case study focusing on an area of commercially productiv e mountain ash (Eucalyptus regnans F. Muell.) forest in the Central Highlan ds region of Victoria, Australia. The species to be conserved is Leadbeater 's possum (Gymnobelideus leadbeateri McCoy), which is locally limited by a scarcity of nesting hollows. The modeling is exploratory but indicates that nest boxes may offer a promising population recovery tool if consideration is taken of their placement and areal extent through time.