Resource-dependent countries are considered to have major difficulties in developing strong taxation systems and sound fiscal policies. Both theoretical assumptions and empirical studies hint at a negative relation between resource revenues and the ability to tax. However, Ecuador has increased...

Hitherto human development has happened at the expense of biodiversity loss, degradation of ecosystems and climate change. Therefore, development-related environmental challenges such as the degradation of ecosystems are expected to become much more important in the post-2015 development agenda....

Weather risk is an issue of extraordinary concern in the face of climate change, not least for rural agricultural households in developing countries. Governments and international donors currently promote ‘climate insurance’, financial mechanisms that make payouts following extreme weather...

Bisher geschieht menschliche Entwicklung auf Kosten der Umwelt: Verlust der Artenvielfalt, Ökosystemschäden und Klimawandel sind der Preis. Daher werden entwicklungsrelevante Umweltprobleme in der Post-2015-Entwicklungsagenda wahrscheinlich an Bedeutung gewinnen. Umweltqualität und ihre...

Trotz zunehmender Schutzbemühungen nimmt die biologische Vielfalt weltweit ab, während internationale Biodiversitätsziele unerreichbar bleiben. Die Mobilisierung finanzieller Ressourcen gilt als Voraussetzung, um den direkten und indirekten Treibern des Verlustes biologischer Vielfalt...

Although the need for adaptation to climate variability and change is increasingly recognized, identifying and implementing adaptation options on the ground still presents a challenge. Especially for Africa, which is regarded as being particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate variability...

Palm oil production is currently the focus of contentious debate. On the one hand, it yields positive socio-economic impacts and can be a powerful engine for rural development. On the other hand, it can generate severe negative impacts regarding ecological and social sustainability....

REDD is one of the latest additions to a series of incentive-based mechanisms for reducing carbon emissions. Many developing and emerging countries have started engaging in REDD. Peru, the country with the world’s fourth largest area of tropical forest, is no exception here – with an obvious...

Many coastal resources, including fish stocks and mangrove forests, are “common pool resources”. It is difficult to exclude anyone interested from harvesting them, which typically results in overexploitation. The study compares three incentive schemes that may induce resource users to...