Economics of Afforestation: A Global Leadership

Portland State University Portland State University

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Forest Collaborative Research Economics

11-23-2019

Economics of Afforestation: A Global Leadership Economics of Afforestation: A Global Leadership

Opportunity for EfD Opportunity for EfD

Jeffrey R. Vincent Duke University

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Citation Details Citation Details Vincent, Jeffrey R., "Economics of Afforestation: A Global Leadership Opportunity for EfD" (2019). Forest Collaborative Research. 27. https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/fc_research/27

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Economics of Afforestation:A Global Leadership Opportunity for EfD

Jeffrey R. Vincent

Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University

Environment for Development Initiative (EfD), U. Gothenburg

Bogota, Nov. 23, 2019

2

Source: Bastin et al. (Science, 2019)

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2/3

Source: The Economist (Sept. 19, 2019)

4

Source: IPCC, Global Warming of 1.5°C (2018), Ch. 4 5

Source: Roe et al. (Nature Climate Change, 2019)

Source: IPCC, Global Warming of 1.5°C (2018), Ch. 4

7

Source: Strengers et al. (Climatic Change, 2008)

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Economists: MIA in forest restoration research

• DEFORESTATION− (Psst … a third of LMICs had increasing forest area during 2010-2015)

• Impacts of decades of afforestation/reforestation programs/policies have gone unevaluated

− Environmental: tree cover, carbon storage, biodiversity, natural forest pressure, …

− Economic: income, employment, poverty, migration, … (inc. intra-household differences)

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Afforestation: lower cost, lower risk?

• Definitions− Reforestation: reestablishing forests on forestland

− Afforestation: establishing forests on non-forestland

• Afforestation of marginal/abandoned agricultural land:− Opportunity cost: low

− Tenure: typically clearer and more secure than on public and community forestlands

− Access: typically better too (planting, harvesting)

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Source: Campbell et al. (Environ. Sci. Technol., 2008)

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Source: Cai et al. (Environ. Sci. Technol., 2011)

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Economic research needs

1. Compile georeferenced forestry and economic data from documents on current or past afforestation programs

2. Retrospective analysis: evaluate impacts of current or past afforestation projects/programs/policies

3. Prospective analysis: choice experiments, field experiments, RCTs to test design features of prospective afforestation projects/programs

4. Targeted analysis of impediments to institutional investment in afforestation and policy options for overcoming them

14

Source: Flynn (RISI, 2016)

15

Th

ou

sa

nd

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17Source: Harris et al. (WRI, 2019)

Source: Payn et al. (Forest Ecology and Management, 2015) 18

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Source: Griscom et al. (PNAS, 2017)

EfD: ideal platform for the needed research

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Afforestation/

Let’s talk – Jeff.Vincent@duke.edu

(including about reforestation)

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