Reducing Degradation of Forests in Poor Countries When Permanent Solutions Elude Us: What Instruments Do we Really Have?

This paper evaluates policies for addressing forest degradation in developing country hill areas, where agriculture is the major activity and villagers depend on forests for important economic inputs. Runaway population growth, poverty and open access probably explain most :overuse" in such areas, but these are very difficult, long-term problems. The paper argues that under such conditions, interim demand-side policies are necessary, but quite limited.