How Much is the Amazon Worth? The State of Knowledge Concerning the Value of Preserving Amazon Rainforests

This paper surveys the current state of
knowledge concerning the value of the Amazon rainforest,
including a survey of work to date to quantify changes in
economic values when the rainforest cover changes. The focus
is on local and regional impacts of forest loss or
protection, including both gross values of forest protection
and opportunity costs of converting the forest to other uses
including agriculture. Important gross value items surveyed
are timber and non-timber product extraction from a
sustainably maintained rainforest; local values of
eco-tourism; biological resources including bio-prospecting;
a range of hydrological impacts including watershed
protection, hydropower production, and changes in rainfall
patterns; and impacts of forest fires and their control.
Mapping such values in geographical space is of high value
for implementing efficient and effective (Reducing Emissions
from Deforestation and Forest Degradation ) programs for
protecting the remaining forest. The current data basis for
such mapping is found to be quite weak and in need of
improvement for all value elements.