REDUCING DEGRADATION OF FORESTS IN POOR COUNTRIES WHEN PERMANENT SOLUTIONS ELUDE US: WHAT INSTRUMENTS DO WE REALLY HAVE?

Randall Bluffstone

No 294419, Harvard Institute for International Development (HIID) Papers from Harvard University, Kennedy School of Government

Abstract: This paper evaluates policies for addressing forest degradation in developing country hill areas, where agriculture is the major activity and villagers depend on forests for important economic inputs. Runaway population growth, poverty and open access probably explain most "overuse" in such areas, but these are very difficult, long-term problems. The paper argues that under such conditions, interim demand-side policies are necessary, but quite limited. Focusing on the case of Nepal, two instruments for reducing fuelwood demand, promotion of more efficient, wood-burning cookstoves and subsidization of (or reduced taxes on) alternative fuels, are evaluated. Using a simple analytical model and results from two surveys conducted in Nepal, it is concluded that promoting improved stoves is a much more efficient and equitable instrument than subsidizing the major alternative fuel, which is kerosene. The cost of fuelwood saved using improved stoves is predicted to be a very low$2.77 per metric ton.

Keywords: International Development; Resource/Energy Economics and Policy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 33
Date: 1997-09
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Related works:
Journal Article: Reducing degradation of forests in poor countries when permanent solutions elude us: what instruments do we really have? (1998)
Working Paper: Reducing Degradation of Forests in Poor Countries When Permanent Solutions Elude Us: What Instruments Do we Really Have? (1997)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ags:hariid:294419

DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.294419

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