Environmental Pollution and Biodiversity: Light Pollution and Sea Turtles in the Caribbean

Abstract

We examine the impact of pollution on biodiversity by studying the effect of coastal light pollution on the sea turtle population in the Caribbean. To this end we assemble a data set of sea turtle nesting activity and satellite derived measures of nightlights. Controlling for surveyor effort, local economic infrastructure and spatial spillovers, we find that nightlights significantly reduce the number of sea turtle nests. Using data on replacement costs of turtles raised in captivity, our result suggests that the increase in lighting over the last 20 years has resulted in the loss of close to 2,000 sea turtles in the Caribbean, worth up to $312 million. Incorporating our empirical estimate into a stage-structured population model we discover that the generational effects in the future are likely much larger. More generally, our study provides a new approach to valuing the cost of environmental pollution associated with species extinction. Authors: Michael Brei (Paris 10), Agustin Perez-Barahona (INRA and Ecole Polytechnique), and Eric Strobl (Ecole Polytechnique)