Forest economics and policy analysis: an overview

Identifies the essential features of the forest economics literature emphasizing what is different about forestry and what are forestry's important features for project and program analysis. The important conclusion is that economic tools are both available and appropriate for the analysis of a wide range of forest policy problems. The presentation begins by reviewing the conceptual issues underlying production of wood and fiber and other forest resource services, including off-site services. The second part of the paper visits seven special topics that are important to forestry and economic development: timber production, including both plantation and planned natural management; smallholder forest management, including social, community and agroforestry; forestry research, education, and extension; tenure; policy spillovers form other sectors of the economy that can substantially alter forests and forestland management; non-timber multiple use values; and deforestation, timber famine or its counter, sustainable forest management. These reviews are suggestive of appropriate analytical approaches to these contemporary policy issues. -from Authors