The Economics of Deforestation in the Amazon : Dispelling the Myths

This provocative new book presents the results of twenty years of research on deforestation in the Amazon. By carefully observing the changing character of human settlements and their association with deforestation over such a prolonged period, the author is able to reject much of the ‘perceived wisdom’. He skillfully dissects various models of deforestation and provides hard evidence on what is myth and what is reality. The book begins by challenging a hypothesis used by many scholars to explain deforestation. The ‘turnover hypothesis’ states that small farmers ‘cause’ deforestation by moving rapidly across newly forested land in an effort to make a living. Dr. Campari argues that in reality the process is far more complex. He reveals that it is actually the larger farms who are the main culprits of deforestation and that, in comparison, the impact of small farmers is marginal. He also challenges the belief that current deforestation, as in the past, is the result of distortionary government policies. The author proves that deforestation continues today because existing policies are based on outdated assumptions of regional development. He goes on to discuss the policy implications of his important findings and identify possibilities for controlling deforestation in the future. This is one of the few studies that accurately documents the process of deforestation in the Amazon. Researchers, academics and policymakers with an interest in environmental policy and natural resource management will appreciate the new and updated information and fresh policy ideas found in this volume. The Economics of Deforestation in the Amazon......Page 1 Contents......Page 7 Preface......Page 8 Acknowledgements......Page 11 1. Deforestation and its myths......Page 13 2. Occupation, changing migration dynamics, and deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon......Page 20 3. The political economy of frontier expansion and deforestation in the Amazon......Page 40 4. Deforestation and the rules of land allocation......Page 59 5. The turnover hypothesis of Amazon deforestation: conceptual framework......Page 70 6. Colonization projects: field work......Page 79 7. Turnover on farming plots......Page 95 8. Deforestation and land re-concentration in the Amazon frontier......Page 108 9. Dispelling other myths about the Amazon......Page 176 10. Policy implications and recommendations......Page 215 References......Page 234 Index......Page 243 After doing twenty years of research and fieldwork, Campari debunks current theories about deforestation in the Amazon, especially one known as the "turnover hypothesis," in which migrating small farmers are blamed. He lays culpability on large farmers and also disputes the view that government policies influence deforestation, seeing the cause rather as "profit-maximizing local agents." Using methods from micro and macroeconomics, natural resource management and environmental economics, public finance, institutional analyses, political economy, demography, and economic geography, he suggests new policy recommendations. Campari is Program Director at the Nature Conservancy. Annotation ©2005 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR