IN SEARCH OF FOREST RESOURCE VALUES OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES - ARE NONMARKET VALUATION TECHNIQUES APPLICABLE

This article examines issues surrounding the potential applicability o f nonmarket valuation techniques to indigenous peoples. A conceptual m odel examines relationships between natural and cultural environments and value systems. Problems of valuation identified include eliciting values for Individuals, aggregating individual values into measures of social welfare, and comparisons of welfare across culturally differen t groups. The influence of sacred or taboo goods, the potential for sa tiation, and variations in property rights are factors to address in a ssessing individual values. Differences in political and property righ ts systems, and unique demographic structures are seen as limits to ag gregating values for randomly selected individuals. Since valuation is endogenous to specific social environments, aggregations of indigenou s and nonindigenous measures of social welfare may be inappropriate.