Selling forest environmental services: Market-based mechanisms for conservation and development

Forest destruction throughout the world poses significant risks. Not only are forests a source of valuable timber and non-timber products, but they also provide important environmental services that help sustain life on Earth. However, only rarely do beneficiaries pay for the services they receive, resulting in low incentives to conserve forests, and limiting opportunities for rural development. Market-based approaches are thought to offer considerable promise as a means to promote forest conservation, and as a new source of income for rural communities. However, it has proven difficult to translate the theory into practice. Based on extensive research and case studies of markets for biodiversity conservation, watershed protection and carbon sequestration, this book demonstrates how payment systems can be established in practice, their effectiveness and their implications for the poor.