Mountains of Choice - economic and ecological values of mountain resources

2003

S. 51-58

5 Abb.

Unselbständiges Werk

200099512

Mountain forest ecosystems present special challenges for managing insitu resources while simultaneously promoting economic development. The challenges are increased when there is conflict between the value of environmental services provided by intact forests, and the value of timber and non-timber mountain resources whose economic use depends on resource extraction. This paper demonstrates that the selection of the most appropriate institutional strucutres and approaches depends both on: 1) the degree of local isolation, and the extent of linkages with downstream markets; and 2) the intrinsic value of the natural resources and environmental services in a given region. The paper argues that the actions required to achieve sustainability are quite specific and limited - a most important, can be spatially defined.