ABSTRACT
Forest destruction throughout the world poses significant risks. Not only are forests a source of valuable timber and non-timber products, but they also provide important environmental services that help sustain life on Earth. However, only rarely do beneficiaries pay for the services they receive, resulting in low incentives to conserve forests, and limiting opportunities for rural development. Market-based approaches are thought to offer considerable promise as a means to address these problems. 1 The case studies described in this book testify to the tremendous innovation all around the world in the use of market-based mechanisms to secure valuable forest environmental services, while at the same time highlighting what must be done to ensure that market-based forest conservation also supports rural livelihoods.
