Ecosystem Services in Competing Land Use Model with Infrastructure Effect

Abstract

The development of linear infrastructure increases the degree of
fragmentation of natural areas and has a negative impact on biodiversity and
the range of available ecosystem services. The basic competing land use model
is expanded to include infrastructure development. The extended model leads
to the conclusion that due to the dual impact of the infrastructure (lowering
the value of ecosystem services and increasing the private rents to developed
land), the size of the natural area in the long-term equilibrium will be lower
compared to the basic model. The preservation of nature ceases to be profitable
enough. Infrastructure also reduces the marginal costs of conversion and thus
increasing the volume of natural land being converted at avery moment along
the transition path. If the decisions on optimal management of natural areas
and infrastructure development are undertaken together, the result is a lower
density of the infrastructure network and a larger ecosystem area in the steady
state.