The Nature Conservancy and other groups that purchase land and conservation easements are examples of using markets for protection. It's telling, though, that they often ultimately turn the land over to governments - local, state or federal, where the costs of supporting our shared natural heritage can be spread out over all of us.
I've enjoyed Elinor Ostrom's writings about Common Pool Resources and different types of self-governance. There are a lot of options, that's for sure! But she has some workable principles and ways of assessing resource problems and what governance approaches might be most effective for a specific situation.
My conservation biology professor was very critical of the highest-ups at the Nature Conservancy. He said they sell the land to the highest bidder. I've not done much research on the subject, that's his opinion.
I will check out Ostrom's writings, thanks for the recommendation! Addressing the issue of the commons is close to my heart.
I'm more familiar with results from specific Nature Conservancy projects than their upper-level management folks. But TNC did come onto the resource management scene with a market-driven perspective - and they have made a big impact. They manage a lot of land and conservation easements, that's for sure. And they have contributed a lot to the science of resource management, especially for controlled burns and riparian systems, as they have experimented on their holdings. I've seen many projects turned over to public agencies, including selling them. And I've seen plenty of their lands sold to private interests, with those conservation easements attached. I would enjoy reading a good history and review of the TNC.
I hope you enjoy Ostrom's writings. There's a lot of food for thought there!