Data from: Paying for conservation: a bioeconomic analysis of the effects of land management options on the viability of an endangered species, Eryngium alpinum

1. Land management is critical for biodiversity conservation in mountain grasslands. It should be both ecologically effective and economically efficient. We provide an economic analysis of different options (spring and autumn grazing, mowing and abandonment) and their effects on population viability of a rare plant species, Eryngium alpinum (Apiaceae), in two French mountain grassland sites (Fournel and Pralognan). 2. Using data collected in a ten-year, individual-based demographic study, we estimated the effects of land management options on the population growth rate and simulated the effect of combinations of options. Income earned through each option was estimated using data on associated costs (price of consumables, working time, wages) and benefits (forage production, quality and price), and we assessed the economic effects of agri-enviro nment subsidies (AESs). We also simulated the effects of increased frequencies of extreme climatic events (such as the 2003 heatwave). 3. Spring grazing was the worst option for E. alpinum demography but the best in economic terms, as it provided net positive incomes. Autumn grazing was the best option, resulting in positive growth rates and incomes, even if the latter were lower than for spring grazing. Mowing was the second best option for demography but resulted in economic losses for farmers. Abandonment provided zero income and was not favourable to population growth. 4. In Fournel, AESs allowed for economically and ecologically near-optimal combinations of management options. In Pralognan, alternating years of grazing with mowing resulted in an acceptable compromise, with positive growth rates and incomes, but AESs were not sufficient to cover the opportunity cost of spring and autumn grazing. Mowing was also unattractive because of the inaccessibility of the site and impossibility to recover the hay to make forage. 5. Simulations with increased frequency of extreme climatic events resulted in negative growth rates in Pralognan, questioning the continuation of AESs in extinction-prone populations. 6. Synthesis and applications. The conservation effectiveness and economic efficiency of grassland management could be improved by alternating practices over several years. However, existing agri-environment subsidies would barely be sufficient to increase uptake of the most favourable land management options for biodiversity.

1. 山地草原的土地管理对于生物多样性保护至关重要，其需兼具生态有效性与经济效率。本研究针对法国两处山地草原样地（Fournel与Pralognan），对不同土地管理方案（春秋季放牧、刈割及弃耕）及其对珍稀植物物种高山刺芹（Eryngium alpinum，伞形科（Apiaceae））种群生存力的影响开展经济学分析。
2. 本研究基于一项为期十年的个体水平种群统计学研究采集的数据，估算了不同土地管理方案对种群增长率的影响，并模拟了多种方案组合的效应。通过关联成本（耗材价格、工作时长、薪酬）与收益（饲草产量、质量及售价）的相关数据，估算了各方案的创收水平，并评估了农业环境补贴（AESs）的经济效应。此外，本研究还模拟了极端气候事件（如2003年热浪）发生频率升高所带来的影响。
3. 春季放牧对高山刺芹的种群动态最为不利，但在经济层面表现最优，因其可带来净正收益。秋季放牧则是最优管理方案：既能实现种群正增长，也能产生收益，尽管其收益低于春季放牧。刈割对种群动态的效果位列第二，但会给农户带来经济损失。弃耕则无任何收益，且不利于种群增长。
4. 在Fournel样地，农业环境补贴可实现经济与生态层面近乎最优的管理方案组合。在Pralognan样地，采用“放牧与刈割交替进行”的方案可达成可接受的折中结果：既能维持种群正增长，也能产生收益，但农业环境补贴不足以覆盖春秋季放牧的机会成本。此外，由于该样地交通不便且无法回收饲草用于饲喂牲畜，刈割方案同样缺乏吸引力。
5. 极端气候事件发生频率升高的模拟结果显示，Pralognan样地的种群增长率将转为负值，这使得针对易灭绝种群的农业环境补贴政策的存续性受到质疑。
6. 总结与应用。通过多年交替采用不同管理措施，可提升草原管理的生物多样性保护效力与经济效率。然而，现有农业环境补贴仅能勉强支撑最有利于生物多样性保护的土地管理方案的推广采用。