Valuation of consumption and sale of forest goods from a Central American rain forest

Researchers recognize that society needs accurate and comprehensive estimat es of the economic value of rain forests to assess conservation and managem ent options(1-7). Valuation of forests can help us to decide whether to imp lement policies that reconcile the value different groups attach to forests . Here we have measured the value of the rain forest to local populations b y monitoring the foods, construction and craft materials, and medicines con sumed or sold from the forest by 32 Indian households in two villages in Ho nduras over 2.5 years. We have directly measured the detailed, comprehensiv e consumption patterns of rain forest products by an indigenous population and the value of that consumption in local markets(8,9). The combined value of consumption and sale of forest goods ranged from US$17.79 to US$23.72 p er hectare per year, at the lower end of previous estimates (between US$49 and US$1,089 (mean US$347) per hectare per year)(4). Although outsiders val ue the rain forest for its high-use and non-use values(10), local people re ceive a small share of the total value. Unless rural people are paid for th e non-local values of rain forests, they may be easily persuaded to defores t.