Services in the Forests: How Can Conservation and Development Be Reconciled?

This study attempted to examine how conservation and development can be reconciled and if there have been initiatives to demonstrate the ability to encourage forest conservation through market mechanisms involving direct involvement in forestation. The study was a qualitative study. The present study focused on the services in the forests, how conservation and development be reconciled. This study, based on in-depth interview, reveal that to be effective in the long-run, programs have to consider the needs and priorities of forest dwellers, which are indeed beyond market-based incentives; a win-win discourse combining forest conservation and poverty alleviation through appropriate provision may hide vested interests of developed communities. Finally, proving the workability of activities and their quantification for emissions credit will be critical for the launching of reducing emissions from forestation and degradation in the future climate agreement.