Cost‐effectiveness of temporarily conserved areas: A case study of breeding birds in Southern Ontario, Canada

Abstract Permanent protected areas (PPAs) may be insufficient to protect migratory species, as they are fixed in space and unfeasible in many locations. Dynamic conservation strategies may be necessary to help conserve migratory species. We tested the cost‐effectiveness of temporarily conserved areas (TCAs), a dynamic conservation strategy, to provide temporary breeding habitat for Bobolink ( Dolichonyx oryzivorus ) and Eastern Meadowlark ( Sturnella magna ) across southern Ontario where substantial additions to the PPA network are difficult. We identified areas containing 30% of the species' abundance, representing 17% of the mapped area of suitable habitat. We then compared the cost‐effectiveness of PPAs via acquisition and TCAs via a payment program to offset financial losses due to delayed first hay harvest in temporarily‐protected fields under three social discount rate scenarios (−3%, 0%, and +3%). We found that the present value (lump‐sum equivalent) of a 10‐year term for TCAs is 14 times cheaper under the baseline 0% discount rate. The most cost‐effective areas to implement TCAs were in the most southern areas, where land is most expensive. Although TCAs cannot protect species that require permanent habitat protection, they are likely a cost‐effective supplementary approach to adaptively meeting habitat needs for migratory species in areas where new PPAs are impractical.