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Between economic loss and social identity: The multi-dimensional cost of avoiding deforestation in Eastern Madagascar

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  • Desbureaux, Sébastien
  • Brimont, Laura

Abstract

This paper exhibits the multiple dimensions of the cost of stopping the main driver of deforestation in Madagascar, slash-and-burn agriculture (tavy). As well as being a major component of the economic livelihoods of most local households living at the edge of forests, tavy has been described by anthropologists as an important cultural practice. In this paper, we show that stopping tavy does not only entail an economic cost for local households. The loss of the cultural dimension of tavy would come at an additional “cultural cost” for some. Our results suggest that a viable cessation of deforestation in Madagascar would require going beyond simple compensation of the opportunity costs of avoiding deforestation.

Suggested Citation

  • Desbureaux, Sébastien & Brimont, Laura, 2015. "Between economic loss and social identity: The multi-dimensional cost of avoiding deforestation in Eastern Madagascar," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 118(C), pages 10-20.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolec:v:118:y:2015:i:c:p:10-20
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2015.07.002
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    Cited by:

    1. Weatherley-Singh, Janice & Gupta, Aarti, 2017. "An ecological landscape approach to REDD+ in Madagascar: Promise and limitations?," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 85(P1), pages 1-9.
    2. Sébastien Desbureaux & Sigrid Aubert & Laura Brimont & Alain Karsenty & Alexio Clovis Lohanivo & Manohisoa Rakotondrabe & Andrianjakarivo Henintsoa Razafindraibe & Jules Razafiarijoana, 2015. "The impact of Protected Areas on Deforestation? An Exploration of the Economic and Political Channels for Madagascar's Rainforests (2001-12)," Working Papers hal-01176860, HAL.
    3. Sébastien Desbureaux, 2016. "Common Resources Management and the "Dark Side" of Collective Action: an Impact Evaluation for Madagascar’s Forests," Working Papers 2016.30, FAERE - French Association of Environmental and Resource Economists.
    4. Desbureaux Sébastien & Eric Kéré Nazindigouba & Combes Motel Pascale, 2016. "Working Paper 238 - Impact Evaluation in a Landscape: protected natural forests, anthropized forested lands and deforestation leakages in Madagascar’s rainforests," Working Paper Series 2341, African Development Bank.
    5. Llopis, Jorge C. & Chastonay, Jonas F. & Birrer, Franziska C. & Bär, Roger & Andriatsitohaina, R. Ntsiva N. & Messerli, Peter & Heinimann, Andreas & Zaehringer, Julie G., 2021. "Year-to-year ecosystem services supply in conservation contexts in north-eastern Madagascar: Trade-offs between global demands and local needs," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 48(C).
    6. Sebastien DESBUREAUX & Eric Nazindigouba KERE & Pascale COMBES MOTEL, 2016. "Impact Evaluation in a Landscape: Protected Natural Forests, Anthropized Forested Lands and Deforestation Leakages in Madagascar's Rainforests," Working Papers 201613, CERDI.
    7. Neudert, Regina & Olschofsky, Konstantin & Kübler, Daniel & Prill, Laura & Köhl, Michael & Wätzold, Frank, 2018. "Opportunity costs of conserving a dry tropical forest under REDD+: The case of the spiny dry forest in southwestern Madagascar," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 102-114.
    8. Gwenolé Le Velly & Céline Dutilly, 2016. "Evaluating Payments for Environmental Services: Methodological Challenges," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(2), pages 1-20, February.
    9. Rakotonarivo, O. Sarobidy & Jacobsen, Jette B. & Larsen, Helle O. & Jones, Julia P.G. & Nielsen, Martin R. & Ramamonjisoa, Bruno S. & Mandimbiniaina, Rina H. & Hockley, Neal, 2017. "Qualitative and Quantitative Evidence on the True Local Welfare Costs of Forest Conservation in Madagascar: Are Discrete Choice Experiments a Valid ex ante Tool?," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 478-491.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Non-market valuation; Contingent valuation; Madagascar; Deforestation; Slash and burn; Payments for environmental services;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q15 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - Land Ownership and Tenure; Land Reform; Land Use; Irrigation; Agriculture and Environment
    • Q56 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environment and Development; Environment and Trade; Sustainability; Environmental Accounts and Accounting; Environmental Equity; Population Growth
    • Q57 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Ecological Economics

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