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Economics Unit

The Costs and Benefits of Low-Impact Logging Relative to Conventional Logging Practices in the Brazilian Amazon

Investigators:

Thomas Holmes, Southern Research Station
Geoffrey Blate, Tropical Forest Foundation
Johan Zweede, Tropical Forest Foundation
Fred Boltz, University of Florida
Douglas Carter, University of Florida

Description:

The degradation and loss of tropical forests is an issue of increasing global concern. Tropical deforestation is primarily caused by the conversion of forest land to agricultural uses and degradation due to poor forestry practices. Efforts to slow the pace of tropical deforestation must evaluate economic and ecological factors associated with alternative forestry practices and land uses.

The overall goal of this research is to produce a comparative economic analysis of the costs and financial benefits of low-impact logging (LIL) methods relative to conventional logging (CL) methods in the Brazilian Amazon. This is being accomplished through the collaboration of the Tropical Forest Foundation and a direct comparison of primary data on logging productivity, costs, revenues and damages for paired forest sites subject to LIL and CL treatments.

Problem Area(s): Tropical forestry
Status: Ongoing

modified: 13-MAR-2000

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