The dynamics of deforestation and reforestation in a developing economy

La dynamique de la déforestation et de la reforestation dans une économie en développement

Julien Wolfersberger, Gregory Amacher, Philippe Delacote and Arnaud Dragicevic
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Gregory Amacher: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University [Blacksburg]
Arnaud Dragicevic: IRSTEA - Institut national de recherche en sciences et technologies pour l'environnement et l'agriculture

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Abstract: We develop a model of optimal land allocation in a developing economy that features three possible land uses: agriculture, primary and secondary forests. The distinction between those forest types reflects their different contribution in terms of public good. In our model, reforestation is costly because it undermines land title security. Using the forest transition concept, we study long-term land-use change and explain important features of cumulative deforestation across countries. Our results shed light on the speed at which net deforestation ends, on the effect of tenure costs in this process, and on composition in steady state. We also present a policy analysis that emphasizes the critical role of institutional reforms addressing the costs of both deforestation and tenure in order to promote a transition. We find that focusing only on net forest losses can be misleading since late transitions may yield, upon given conditions, a higher level of environmental benefits.

Keywords: Deforestation; Economic Development; Forest transition; Tenure costs (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022-06
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-agr, nep-env and nep-res
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Published in Environment and Development Economics, 2022, 27 (3), pp.272-293. ⟨10.1017/S1355770X21000218⟩

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Related works:
Journal Article: The dynamics of deforestation and reforestation in a developing economy (2022)
Working Paper: The dynamics of deforestation and reforestation in a developing economy (2014)
Working Paper: The dynamics of deforestation and reforestation in a developing economy (2014)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hal:journl:hal-04157160

DOI: 10.1017/S1355770X21000218

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