This book traces the economic and biological pattern of forest development from initial settlement and harvest activity at the natural forest frontier to modern industrial forest plantations. It builds from diagrams describing three discrete stages of forest development, and then discusses the management and policy implications associated with each, supporting its observations with examples and data from six continents and from both developed and developing countries. It shows that characteristic distinctions between the three stages make forestry unusual in natural resource management and that effective policy requires different, even contrasting, decisions at each stage. William F. Hyde’s comprehensive discussion covers a wide range of issues, including the impacts of both specific forest policies and broader macroeconomic policies, the unique requirements of current issues such as global warming, biodiversity and tourism, and the complexities of the different forest products industries. Concluding chapters review the roles of the newer institutional landowners, of smaller private and farm landowners, and of public agencies. This highly-original volume reaches far beyond forest economics; it explains what forestry can do for regional development and environmental conservation and what policies designed for other sectors and the macro-economy can do for forestry.

Global interest in forest conservation, biodiversity preservation, and non-timber values has risen while pressures on the forest as a source of income and employment have also increased. These demands are often conflicting, making forest planning, allocation and policy formation very complex. This volume explores theoretical and applied issues surrounding forest resource allocation. The book is divided into three main subject areas: 1) tropical forests-environment, economics and trade, 2) non-timber valuation-theory and application, and 3) ecosystem management. The first of these focuses on tropical forests, reflecting the fact that global environmental concerns surrounding these regions are often in conflict with local economic objectives. The second section examines non-timber values, which are important in planning and policy decisions, but are also very controversial. The third group of chapters consider ecosystem management, a concept that promotes the use of forest harvesting practices that mimic natural disturbance patterns. Overall, the book will be of interest to readers in forestry and environmental economics.

International environmental threats have commanded widespread attention since the late 1960s. A number of environmental disasters have galvanized public concern, and have reached the international political agenda following the emergence of environmental social movements in the industrialized countries.

This is a selection of recent essays from an author established in the environmental economics field. The book explains the development of Pearce's career in the subject; shows how environmental economics can play a part in policy-making; and argues against some other schools of thought.

Presents Barbier's (U. of York, UK) most influential papers on the role of environmental economics in economic development. Following an introduction, the first section deals with the concept of sustainable development, its practical implications for economic policy in developing countries, and the long run conditions under which an economy might trade off the environment and growth to achieve its development aims. The next three sections discuss land degradation and tropical deforestation; the economics of wetlands, wildlands, and biodiversity conservation; and trade and the environment. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR