Experimental tests of tropical forest conservation measures

•We conduct framed field experiments with local forest users in Tanzania.•Communication has a strong impact on forest use through non-pecuniary channels.•The command and control treatment has a larger conservation impact than PES.•Behavioural validity is good, while treatment validity is discussed.•...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of economic behavior & organization 2015-10, Vol.118, p.346-359
Main Authors: Handberg, Øyvind Nystad, Angelsen, Arild
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Behavioral decision theory
Command and control
Community forest management
Conservation
Correlation analysis
Environmental policy
External validity
Forest management
Forests
Framed field experiment
Gender differences
Gender differentiation
Payment for environmental services
Tanzania
Validation studies
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Summary:•We conduct framed field experiments with local forest users in Tanzania.•Communication has a strong impact on forest use through non-pecuniary channels.•The command and control treatment has a larger conservation impact than PES.•Behavioural validity is good, while treatment validity is discussed.•Framed field experiments can complement traditional impact assessment. We conducted framed field experiments (FFEs) with local forest users in Tanzania. The harvest decisions are well below the individually optimal ones, suggesting significant non-pecuniary motivations. The participants display more pro-social behaviour than similar studies have shown, indicating that the forest specific framing influences participants’ behaviour. We tested three different conservation treatments: command and control (CAC), payment for environmental services (PES) and community forest management (CFM). CFM is as efficient as CAC in increasing pro-social forest use, despite not directly affecting the pecuniary gain. PES – as designed here – is the least effective treatment, but the results might be parameter sensitive. Women use forests more intensively than men, but are also more responsive to the treatments. The behavioural validity of the experiment is supported by strong correlation between behaviour in the experiment and in stated real life, while treatment validity cannot be tested directly. FFEs should become a supplement to traditional impact assessments (IA) of conservation policies, as it avoids many challenges that traditional IA methods face.
ISSN:0167-2681
1879-1751
DOI:10.1016/j.jebo.2015.03.007