Environmental kuznets curves and forest trends

The notion of the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC), in which environmental trends first worsen and then improve as income rises, is introduced. A bri ef review of the literature on EKCs suggests that evidence for their existe nce is inconclusive. This article contends, however; that stronger evidence may exist for Kuznets-type elements in forest trends (hereafter EfKCs) tha n has been recognised in the literature. Three types of evidence are discus sed: recent deforestation rates in individual developing countries; cross-s ectional global analyses; and reforestation trends in individual non-develo ped countries. It is concluded that the evidence In general terms points to the existence of Kuznets-type trends. In other words, forests initially sh rink as economic development proceeds and incomes rise, but then begin to e xpand once more at higher bevels of development.