Economic valuation of special forest products: an assessment of methodological shortcomings

The study analyses strengths and weaknesses of different methods for calcul ating the economic importance of forest products extracted by rural populat ions. The results show that methods frequently used by scholars are subject to serious uncertainty. The study is based on a 1-year survey in two flood plain villages in the Peruvian Amazon. Different methods were studied in r elation to local extraction of timber and non-timber products, including pl ants, fish and animals. Both products for the market and for subsistence us e have been included. A combination of interview methods, observations and notes taken daily by the households was applied. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.