The aim of this research programme is to understand the economic value of the many goods and services that forests and other natural ecosystems provide us with, and to try to determine effective institutions and systems for their management.
More information
Forests and other natural ecosystems play a vital role in the life support system of Earth. For example, recent developments have highlighted the importance of rural land uses for climate change. Deforestation and agriculture account for nearly one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions.
However, attention in the past few years has focused on the potential for biofuels to provide one alternative to fossil fuels as a source of energy, helping to mitigate climate change and address energy security concerns.
Yet the case for this strategy cannot be made without considering the wider economic and environmental implications of these kinds of land use change.
Recent reports by the United Nations Environment Programme have thrown into doubt the wisdom of converting large amounts of land in developing countries – sometimes, ironically, tropical forest – into agricultural land for biofuels. These reports point to the environmental cost of doing so, notably for the conservation of biological diversity. Conversely, the case for avoiding deforestation can actually be strengthened by consideration of the wider class of benefits that forests provide.
It is clear that the economics of forest and ecosystem conservation involves taking a holistic view of the goods and services they provide. This is precisely the aim of this research programme, which applies state-of-the-art techniques for valuing and accounting for their total economic value.
What is also clear is that issues of land use change - especially, though not exclusively, in developing countries - cannot be tackled without also analysing the political-economic dimension. This research programme will therefore look at the governance arrangements necessary to effectively manage forests and natural ecosystems.
Lead staff
Other contributors
Associate staff
Based primarily in another LSE centre or department.
Giles Atkinson|
Charles Palmer|
Tony Hall|
Diana Weinhold|
Associate students
Rhona Barr|
Murray Collins|
Matt Cranford
Mark Ellis-Jones
Tim Laing|
Xavier Vollenweider
Charlene Watson|