Reducing degradation of forests in poor countries when permanent solutions elude us: what instruments do we really have?

摘要

This paper evaluates policies for addressing forest degradation in devel- oping country hill areas, where agriculture is the major activity and villagers depend on forests for important economic inputs. Population growth, poverty, and open access probably explain most 'overuse' in such areas, but these are very difficult, long-term problems. The paper argues that under such conditions interim demand-side policies should be seriously considered, but the case is also made that the set of feasible instru- ments is quite small.