Synopses & Reviews
An economic analysis of the costs and benefits of deforestation in the Amazon.
Synopsis
Includes bibliographical references (p. 241-256) and index.
Synopsis
Presenting an economic perspective of deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon, the authors make use of a uniquely rich set of economic and ecological data spanning the whole of the Brazilian Amazon to examine the extent to which land clearing promotes economic activity and growth and at what ecological cost. Their assessment of the costs and benefits of deforestation in the worldâs largest rainforest have important policy implications and will be essential reading for all environmental and development economists, ecologists and policy-makers.
Synopsis
Making use of a uniquely rich data set the authors analyze the ecological and economic impacts of a range of policies and examine whether the economic benefits of land clearing surpass the ecological costs. Their conclusions are surprising.
Table of Contents
Preface; Part I. Overview of Issues: 1. The Brazilian Amazon; 2. Extent of deforestation; 3. Review of sources on deforestation; Part II. Econometric Analysis of the Causes of Deforestation: 4. The DESMAT data set; 5. An econometric model of deforestation; 6. Further analysis - cattle ranching; 7. Urban infrastructure; 8. Carbon emissions from Amazon deforestation; Part III. Economics of Deforestation: 9. Economic analysis of deforestation; Part IV. Alternatives to Deforestation: Extractivism - an Economically Viable Alternative to Deforestation?: 10. Plant extractivism in Brazil; 11. Plant extraction in the Amazon - a spatial analysis; Part V. Policy Implications, Discussion and Conclusion: 12. Policy implications and recommendations; 13. Conclusion; Appendix - Econometric Methods.