A dynamic approach to forest regimes in developing economies

In the developing economies, optimal forest regimes should incorporate the socio-economic characteristics of the user groups. And, since socio-economi c factors will change with time, optimal forest regimes will also follow a dynamic path. The two most important socio-economic factors are the heterog eneity of the user group with respect to forest management and the direct d ependence of the user group on forest. Normally, the heterogeneity will inc rease and dependence will decrease with economic growth of user group. An o ptimal control model is used to integrate the dynamics of natural system su ch as joint product of forests and its growth function, and the dynamics of the two socio-economic factors - heterogeneity and dependence. The model d emonstrates that the dynamics of optimal forest regimes will depend upon th e change in natural factors, socio-economic factors, and on the interaction s between natural and socio-economic factors. Hence, optimal forest managem ent strategies would require a continuous refinement in forest management r egimes, instead of static state regimes, as local communities in developing economies pass through different phases of economic growth. (C) 2000 Elsev ier Science B.V. All rights reserved.