ReversingDeforestation: How Market Forces and Local Ownership Are Saving Forests in Latin America

"Tropical deforestation is considered one of the greatest threats to the world's biodiversity, with possibly devastating consequences for human welfare. Through detailed evidence and case studies, Sohngen and Southgate demonstrate that there are signs of hope. Emergent trends in Latin America are slowing net deforestation, even reversing it in some places. This book serves as a timely and invaluable aid to designing sensible policies to save the world's remaining tropical forests." —Edward B. Barbier, Colorado State University "Being 'dismal scientists,' economists who work on forestry issues in the Global South have typically focused on deforestation despite signs of forest recovery. This bold, compelling book rights the balance, arguing that long-term demographic, technological, and institutional processes are bringing back Latin America's forests and bolstering biodiversity conservation and climate mitigation." —Jeffrey Vincent, Duke University "A fascinating exploration of the interrelated factors that help to shape how humans use the land and its products, from demographic shifts and economic conditions to changing agricultural technology and forest conservation. Sohngen and Southgate describe the pitfalls and opportunities for those engaged in protecting forests, providing clear and actionable steps for policymakers interested in incentivizing landowners toward conservation outcomes." —Jennifer Jenkins, Chief Science Officer at Rubicon Carbon "In Reversing Deforestation, Sohngen and Southgate convincingly demonstrate that the path toward sustainable forests lies in increasing agricultural productivity growth and providing property rights." —Jayson Lusk, Oklahoma State University