In large areas of developing countries the loss of trees is causing erosion and degradation of the soil, posing severe problems for economic development. By translating the ecological benefits of afforestation into economic terms, the author demonstrates how investments that benefit the environment often benefit the economy as well. Both the traditional work of the forestry services and tree plantings by farmers are needed, says the author, if deforestation is to be halted and reversed. With special refrence to Africa, he discusses the underlying reasons for deforestation, suggests policy changes to promote the planting and care of trees, and identifies issues for social and scientific research. A case study of the arid zone of northern Nigeria illustrates the benefits that could be brought about by establishing windbreaks and encouraging farmers to plant trees. Besides preventing soil erosion, improving soil fertility, and thus increasing crop prodution, trees provide fruit, livestock fodder, and much-needed fuelwood and building materials. The author compares the increase in farm incomes as a result of an afforestation program with the decrease in incomes if deforestation and soil erosion were to continue. The analysis will be of special interest to those concerned with agriculture, forestry, rural development, and environmental issues in developing countries.

This title was first published in 2003. The 'Economics of Forestry' is a specialized subset of resource economics addressing a specific natural resource - the forest - which is usually a relatively long time period. Hence, forest economics has characteristics similar to nonrenewable resources but also has those of a renewable resource, in some cases approaching those of agriculture. This volume comprises some of the most significant journal essays in forest economics and forest policy. The International Library of Environmental Economics and Policy explores the influence of economics on the development of environmental and natural resource policy. In a series of twenty five volumes, the most significant journal essays in key areas of contemporary environmental and resource policy are collected. Scholars who are recognized for their expertise and contribution to the literature in the various research areas serve as volume editors and write essays that provides the context for the collection. Volumes in the series reflect three broad strands of economic research including 1) Natural and Environmental Resources, 2) Policy Instruments and Institutions and 3) Methodology. The editors, in their introduction to each volume, provide a state-of-the-art overview of the topic and explain the influence and relevance of the collected papers on the development of policy. This reference series provides access to the economic literature that has shaped contemporary perspectives on land use analysis and policy.

The economics of forestry has always fascinated me as one of the most brain-taxing cases in economics. As an investment forestry is different from many other projects as it has unusually long gestation periods. For example, in the United Kingdom it takes over 40 years to grow coniferous and over 100 years for deciduous timber. These long gestation periods make it very clear how import ant are the magnitude of the discount rate and the method of discounting in the evaluation of investment projects. Any errors in these will misguide investors in forestry one way or the other. In addition, forestry redistributes income between gener ations. Its long gestation periods make it obvious that more than one generation will be involved in any venture. When we plant trees we know that the bulk of the benefits will be captured by future generations. Conversely, when we fell trees we reap the benefit of projects which were established in the past, mostly by generations who are long gone. So far most economists have devoted their time and energy to analysing income distribution in an intragenerational context, and this is a very sensitive and controversial issue. After all, most revolutions have taken place because of the uneven income distribution which was oppressive for the majority. Forestry helps us to study the case from the viewpoint of different generations. Forestry necessitates estimating timber prices a long time ahead.

This book draws together contributions from forest economists in the Research Triangle of North Carolina, with co-authors from institutions around the world. It represents our common belief that rigorous empirical analysis in an economic framework can inform forest policy. We intend the book as a guide to the empirical methods that we have found most useful for addressing both traditional and modem areas of concern in forest policy, including timber production and markets, multiple use forestry, and valuation of non-market benefits. 'The book editors and most chapter authors are affiliated with three institutions in the Research Triangle: the Southern Research Station of the USDA Forest Service (K. Abt, Butry, Holmes, Mercer, Moulton, Prestemon, Wear), the Department of Forestry at North Carolina State University (R. Abt, Ahn, Cubbage, Sills), and the Environmental and Natural Resource Economics Program of Research Triangle Institute (Murray, Pattanayak). Two other Triangle institutions are also represented among the book authors: Duke University (Kramer) and the Forestland Group (Zinkhan). In addition to our primary affiliations, many of us are adjunct faculty and/or graduates of Triangle universities. Many of our co-authors also graduated from or were previously affiliated with Triangle institutions. Thus, the selection of topics, methods, and case studies reflects the work of this particular network of economists, and to some degree, our location in the southeastern United States. However, our work and the chapters encompass other regions of the United States and the world, including Latin America and Asia.

Concluding chapters review the roles of the newer institutional landowners, of smaller private and farm landowners, and of public agencies.

"How are forest resources created and used? How do they contribute to our happiness? What are some of the issues in forest resource stewardship? How should these issues be addressed? What principles should be followed? What is the future of forestry? How can - and do - we affect its future?" "Such is the subject of Introduction To Forest Resource Economics." "From the "Father of Forestry Economics," this new book delivers far more than just the economics of forests. This impressive work provides readers with a realistic view of forestry economics, based on the author's experience of over 40 years in forestry. It covers a wide range of topics - carefully subdivided to enable readers to easily focus on one or more narrow topics of special interest." "Approaching forestry economics from a social science perspective and considering the human factors involved, the book includes consumers and consumers attitudes. Special emphasis is placed on the critically important areas of world forestry, nontimber forestry, and consumer economics, and an important theme of the book involves nations' interdependencies: geographic, cultural, and political."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved