Forest conservation incentives and deforestation in the Ecuadorian Amazon

Abstract

SUMMARYForest conservation incentives are a popular approach to combatting tropical deforestation. Here we consider a case where direct economic incentives for forest conservation were offered to newly titled smallholders in a buffer zone of a protected area in the northeastern Ecuadorian Amazon. We used quasi-experimental impact evaluation methods to estimate changes in forest cover for 63 smallholders enrolled in Ecuador's Socio Bosque program compared to similar households that did not enroll. Focus group interviews in 15 communities provided insight into why landowners enrolled in the program and how land use is changing. The conservation incentives program reduced average annual deforestation by 0.4–0.5% between 2011 and 2013 for those enrolled, representing as much as a 70% reduction in deforestation attributable to Socio Bosque. Focus group interviews suggested that some landowners chose to ‘invest’ in conservation because the agricultural capacity of their land was limited and economic incentives provided an alternative livelihood strategy. Interviews, however, indicated limits to increasing enrollment rates under current conditions, due to lack of trust and liquidity constraints. Overall, a hybrid public–private governance approach can lead to larger conservation outcomes than restrictions alone.

The Role of Non-Timber Forest Products in Creating Incentives for Forest Conservation: A Case Study of Phnom Prich Wildlife Sanctuary, Cambodia

“…Therefore, this study regards 'forest conservation' as activities of forest maintenance, forest protection, and reforestation.  Incentives for forest conservation: references [26,40,41] define incentives for forest conservation as the voluntary agreements that landowners or local people make to conserve forest in exchange for their livelihood benefits.  Non-timber forest products' incentives: this study defines this term as the motivation strategies to encourage local people to participate in forest conservation activities when they get income from non-timber forest products (NTFPs).…”

“…Incentive for forest conservation occurs when local people receive forest products benefiting their livelihoods, and the incentive's value should be relatively equal to the management costs/conservation costs in a similar context [40,52].…”

“…• Incentives for forest conservation: references [26,40,41] define incentives for forest conservation as the voluntary agreements that landowners or local people make to conserve forest in exchange for their livelihood benefits.…”

Deforestation risks posed by oil palm expansion in the Peruvian Amazon

“…In 2005, pasture and commercial cropland accounted for 96% of agricultural land in South America, while tree crops such as oil palm accounted for only 0.5% [15]. However, in the past decade, regional studies show marked expansion of tree crops including cacao [16] and coffee [17].…”

Half of the world’s tree biodiversity is unprotected and is increasingly threatened by human activities

“…Schemes for conservation of biodiversity outside of PAs (e.g. protection under Payments of Ecosystem Services, PES) could also be sponsored by governments, NGOs and companies with social responsibility as a tool to preserve biodiversity and reduce the human pressure on these areas (50).…”