Agro-biodiversity: an economic evaluation of benefits provided to regional community by the Apulian olive landraces

The most important anthropogenic cause of the loss of agricultural biodiversity is the rapid change in land use and the subsequent transformation of habitats, a process stemming from the economic decisions of sector agents, with significant implications for biodiversity conservation strategies in agro-ecosystems. The paper focuses on the olive sector of Apulia, Italy, one of the most important in the regional agriculture in terms of added value. In particular, it concerns the conservation of the local olive landraces based on the socioeconomic characteristics of regional citizens. Recognition of the social, economic and structural heterogeneity in community is important for estimating accurately predicting benefits and costs of agro-biodiversity management in the Mediterranean area. The paper allows studying these aspects by measuring, through a random parameter logit model, the monetary willingness of citizens of Apulia to participate in an on-farm agro-biodiversity conservation programme and by exploring how some programme attributes influence their willingness. This information can then be gathered in order to verify the suitability of the conservation strategy in force and to provide tailored references for future programmes.