Conservation of forest biodiversity using temporal conservation contracts

Temporal conservation contracts are used to protect biodiversity in privately owned lands worldwide. We examine how stand characteristics and habitat requirements of target species affect the contract length in a boreal forest context. We develop an integrated optimization model and apply the model with data on endangered species occurring in spruce forests in Finland. The results suggest that a cost-effective conservation policy for protecting privately owned forest land involves both short- and long-term contracts between landowners and environmental agencies. The higher the conservation objective, the more intensively long-term contracts should be assigned. Managed stands should be assigned short-term contracts. Regarding unmanaged stands both short- and long‐term contracts should be used. However, species habitat requirements affect the results and thus the conservation policy. ► We examine length of conservation contracts for protecting biodiversity. ► We focus on stand characteristics and habitat requirements of target species. ► We use an integrated numeric optimization model. ► We show that both short- and long-term contracts are cost-effective. ► Contract lengths increase with conservation level.