National and international policies for tropical rain forest conservation?A quantitative analysis for Cameroon

Abstract

Standard-Nutzungsbedingungen:Die Dokumente auf EconStor dürfen zu eigenen wissenschaftlichen Zwecken und zum Privatgebrauch gespeichert und kopiert werden.Sie dürfen die Dokumente nicht für öffentliche oder kommerzielle Zwecke vervielfältigen, öffentlich ausstellen, öffentlich zugänglich machen, vertreiben oder anderweitig nutzen.Sofern die Verfasser die Dokumente unter Open-Content-Lizenzen (insbesondere CC-Lizenzen) zur Verfügung gestellt haben sollten, gelten abweichend von diesen Nutzungsbedingungen die in der dort genannten Lizenz gewährten Nutzungsrechte. Abstract This paper provides a numerical general equilibrium assessment of policies to reduce tropical deforestation in Cameroon. Market failure -mainly in the form of national and international externalities -and policy failures -such as highly distorted product markets -are identified as major sources of overexploitation. The ecological effects of deforestation control are shown to depend crucially upon its impact on land use patterns whereas its efficiency effects hinge on the manner in which a specified set-aside target is achieved. If the international community wants to ensure a higher level of protection of these forests, and to do so within a market-based system, the provision of conditional financial resources is necessary. Since the series involves manuscripts in a preliminary form, interested readers are requested to direct criticisms and suggestions directly to the autliors and to clear any quotations with them. Terms of use: Documents in

Working with Paper

“…Tropical stands contain some 200 m 3 to 400 m 3 of timber per ha (Thiele and Wiebelt 1993;Pearce and Warford 1993, p.130), but much of this consists of non-commercial species, so clear felling does not usually occur. Nonetheless, if 30% to 40% of the harvest is usable and assuming total rents of US$30 m -3 , clear felling yields a rent (or social surplus) of $1,800-$4,800 per ha, not including returns from subsequent land uses.…”

Conserving Tropical Rain Forests in Indonesia: A Quantitative Assessment of Alternative Policies

“…These policy failures range from subsidised settlement schemes to the protection of domestic wood processing industries. Macroeconomic policies, such as trade or exchange rate policies, may also have a significant indirect impact on deforestation (Thiele and Wiebelt, 1993b).…”

Structural adjustment and deforestation in Nicaragua

“…Deacon treats land as a homogenous input in a single agricultural sector. So do Thiele and Wiebelt (1993) in an empirical model for Cameroon. Thus, it is the general development in supply and demand of an aggregate agricultural good which is driving the demand for input of land in those models.…”

“…Thiele and Wiebelt (1993) integrate a forward looking forestry sector in their CGE framework for Cameroon. Persson and Munasinghe (1995) go one step further and include deforestation by squatters for either logging or subsistence farming in Costa Rica.…”