Description:
<jats:title>Market-based incentives for conservation in tropical and subtropical forests</jats:title>
<jats:p>Millions of hectares of forests are lost every year in the tropics and subtropics as a result of land use changes and illegal logging. To address this situation, a number of market-based approaches were developed. The rationale is that tropical forests can only be maintained in the long term if economic returns of sustainable activities are equivalent to unsustainable forest uses. This article describes mechanisms such as income generation from forest products, payments for ecosystem services, compensation payments as well as green finance products. An important prerequisite for the successful application of these market-based approaches are robust and legally binding land and land use rights.</jats:p>