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  1. Forestry investment returns  Timberland investmentObjectives and behaviorInfluence of change
2. Economics of forest health
3. Regional resource models
4. Public policy and objectives |
Tropical ForestryDescription:Protecting, conserving, and managing tropical forests while facilitating sustainable economic development in the world's developing countries remains a difficult environmental and social challenge. Forests in developing countries have declined by nearly half during the 20th Century, and it is estimated that 17-20 million hectares continue to be lost annually. Degradation and loss of tropical forests is especially troublesome because of the impact on global climate change and because tropical forests are one of the most important repositories of the world's biodiversity. Crucial to resolving the tropical forestry problem is assessing the impacts of government policies, market factors, and societal values on the management and protection of tropical forests. The research work unit is approaching this problem from a variety of perspectives. For example, ecotourism has been studied in Brazil, Jamaica, Madagascar, and Mexico as a means to protect tropical forests while generating foreign exchange and employment opportunities for local communities. Agroforestry which holds promise as a tool for sustainable food and wood production systems for small farmers has been analyzed in the Philippines and Mexico. Additional research areas include the economic feasibility of low impact logging techniques in the Brazilian Amazon, use of extractive reserves as a conservation tool, and the impact of international trade agreements on tropical deforestation.
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modified:
13-MAR-2000 created by:Evan Mercer |
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