Effects of Protected Areas on Forest Cover Change and Local Communities

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Date

June 11, 2014

Authors

Juan Miranda, Leonardo Corral, Allen Blackman, Gregory Asner, and Eirivelthon Lima

Publication

Working Paper

Reading time

1 minute

Protected areas are a cornerstone of forest conservation in developing countries. Yet we know little about their effects on forest cover change or the socioeconomic status of local communities, and even less about the relationship between these effects. This paper assesses whether “win-win” scenarios are possible—that is, whether protected areas can both stem forest cover change and alleviate poverty. We examine protected areas in the Peruvian Amazon using high-resolution satellite images and household-level survey data for the early 2000s. To control for protected areas’ nonrandom siting, we rely on quasi-experimental (matching) methods. We find that the average protected area reduces forest cover change. We do not find a robust negative effect on local communities. Protected areas that allow sustainable extractive activities are more effective in reducing forest cover change but less effective in delivering win-win outcomes.

Topics

Authors

Juan Miranda

Leonardo Corral

Allen Blackman

Nonresident Fellow

Allen Blackman is a nonresident fellow at RFF. His work on industrial pollution control analyzes public disclosure programs, economic incentive instruments, and voluntary regulation.

Gregory Asner

Eirivelthon Lima

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