The Use of Taxation Incentives to Create New Eco-Service Markets

Abstract

Eco-taxation incentives are often treated in isolation to the business model that is used to fund conservation and sustainable business practices. The study reported in this paper integrates taxation arrangements with a business model to secure multiple funding streams, to deliver multiple environmental outcomes, with a minimum of transaction costs, The authors (and their various industry collaborators) believe that this model will be more effective than the existing natural resource management funding arrangements in delivery of a triple bottom line outcome. Most governments, given all their other funding responsibilities, will be unable to increase funding into an environmental sustainable agenda. It is for this main reason that a business model should be adopted that harnesses private capital, private sector management and private incentives to encourage economically, socially and environmentally sustainable practices. The paper suggests a business model to ensure the sustainability of landscapes would combine private funding, government supervision, fiscal instruments and payments to eco-service providers for services such as carbon sequestration, biodiversity conservation, salinity control, mitigation banking and research into sustainable practices.