End-of-Conflict Deforestation: Evidence from Colombia’s Peace Agreement

Mounu Prem, Santiago Saavedra and Juan Vargas

No 288, HiCN Working Papers from Households in Conflict Network

Abstract: Armed conflict can endanger natural resources through several channels such as direct predation from fighting groups, but it may also help preserve ecosystems by dissuading extractive economic activities through the fear of extortion. The effect of conflict on deforestation is thus an empirical question. This paper studies the effect on forest cover of Colombia’s recent peace negotiation between the central government and the FARC insurgency. Using yearly deforestation data from satellite images and a difference-in-differences identification strategy, we show that areas controlled by FARC prior to the declaration of a permanent ceasefire that ultimately led to a peace agreement experienced a differential increase in deforestation after the start of the ceasefire. The deforestation effect of peace is attenuated in municipalities with higher state capacity, and is exacerbated by land intensive economic activities. Our results highlight the importance of complementing peacemaking milestones with state building efforts to avoid environmental damage.

Keywords: Deforestation; Conflict; Peace building; Colombia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D74 Q34 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019-01
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-big and nep-env
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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Related works:
Journal Article: End-of-conflict deforestation: Evidence from Colombia’s peace agreement (2020)
Working Paper: End-of-conflict deforestation: evidence from Colombia’s peace agreement (2019)
Working Paper: End-Of-Conflict Deforestation: Evidence From Colombian’s Peace Agreement (2018)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hic:wpaper:288

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