Afforestation and Timber Management Compliance Strategies in Climate Policy. A Computable General Equilibrium Analysis

This paper analyzes the role of afforestation-reforestation and timber management activities, and their major and secondary economic effects in stabilizing climate during the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol. In particular, with a Computable General Equilibrium framework, the ICES model, it is inferred how forest carbon sequestration fits within the European domestic portfolio of a 2020-20 and 2020-30 climate stabilization policy. Afforestation and land use are accounted for by introducing their effects in the model. This is done by relying on carbon sequestration curves provided by Sohngen (2005), which describe the average annual cost of sequestration for selected world regions. Results show that afforestation and timber management could lead to substantially lower policy costs if included. By allowing afforestation alone it is possible to achieve the 30% emissions reduction target with an additional European effort of only 0.2% compared with the cost of a 20% emissions reduction without afforestation. The introduction of these alternatives for mitigating climate is expected to reduce carbon price by around 30% in 2020 and the already contained leakage effect (around 1%), coming from an independent European commitment, by 0.2%.Climate Change, General Equilibrium Modelling, Forestry, Afforestation

The Economic and Environmental Effects of an EU Ban on Illegal Logging Imports. Insights from a CGE Assessment

Illegal logging is widely recognized as a major economic problem and one of the causes of environmental degradation. Increasing awareness of its negative effects has fostered a wide range of proposals to combat it by major international conservation groups and political organizations. Following the 2008 US legislation which prohibits the import of illegally harvested wood and wood products, the European Union (EU) is now discussing a legislation proposal which would ban illegal timber from the EU market. In this study we use the ICES computable general equilibrium model to estimate the reallocation of global demand and timber imports following the pending EU legislation. With this exercise our final objective is to assess the economic impacts and measure the potential emission reduction resulting from the introduction of this type of policy. Results show that while the EU ban does not seem particularly effective in reducing illegal logging activities, its main effect will be the removal of illegal logs from the international markets. In addition, the unilateral EU ban on illegal logs increases secondary wood production in illegal logging countries as their exports become relatively more competitive. Through this mechanism, part of the banned, illegal timber will re-enter the international trade flows, but it will be “hidden” as processed wood. This effect is, however, limited. Finally, given the limited effect on overall economic activity, effects on GHG emissions are also limited. Direct carbon emissions from logging activities can decrease from 2.5 to 0.6 million tons per year.Forestry, Illegal Logging, International Trade, Economy and Environment, Computable General Equilibrium Models

Urban Development and Urban Deforestation

Forests can play a major role in climate regulation by reducing levels of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Forests also provide a range of other ecological goods and services such as biodiversity and watershed protection and amenity benefits. On the other hand, deforestation and suburban sprawl have substantially changed and fragmented our landscape. While the economic importance of open space and forest amenities and the implications of nontimber benefits for harvesting within the traditional Faustmann framework are well understood, the feedback effects between urban development and forest land changes are not. However, the development of a framework to fully exploit the interplay between urban development and deforestation may reinforce the workings of emission reduction programs if co-benefits from land-based mitigation are realized. The purpose of this paper is to offer a first step towards such framework. In particular, this paper has developed a model of a single forest owner operating with perfect foresight in a dynamic open-city environment that allows for switching between alternative competing land uses (forest and urban use) at some point in the future. The model also incorporates external values of an even-aged standing forest in addition to the value of timber when it is harvested. Timber is exploited based on a multiple rotation model a la Faustmann with clear-cut harvesting. In contrast to previous models, our alternative land use to forest land is endogenous. Within this framework, we study the problem of the private owner as well as that of the social planner, when choosing the time to harvest, the time to convert land and the intensity of development. We also examine the extent to which the two-way linkage between urban development and forest management practices (timber production and provision of forest amenities) contributes to economic efficiency and improvements in non-market forest benefits. Finally, we consider policy options available to a regulator seeking to achieve improvements in efficiency including anti-sprawl policies (impact fees and density controls) and forest policies such a yield tax. Numerical simulations illustrate our analytical results.

Essays on forestry economics

In this dissertation, optimal forest management and land use allocation are analyzed when biodiversity and carbon sequestration benefits are introduced into the forest agent problem. In particular, forest carbon sequestration is studied under two different scenarios: the first considers the problem of the small private owner, while the second focuses on the management of a public forest, when timber and land prices are endogenously determined. In the first paper, based on a multiple rotation model à la Faustmann in which optimal land use conversion time is endogenous, we discuss the implementation of the optimal solution from the small private owner’s perspective . Given the important role of the “permanence” issue in the context of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, two different accounting methods (the Carbon Flow and the Ton-Year Crediting) with constant and rising carbon prices are analyzed. It is shown that the use of different carbon methods strongly impacts optimal rotations and forest profitability, implying that short and long run timber supplies are also affected by the carbon accounting method choice. Moreover, the consideration of carbon stored in long-lived wood products affects the optimal land use conversion time when carbon prices are increasing. An application to the portuguese Eucalyptus forest confirms these results. In particular, as immediate land use conversion is optimal for most cases considered, the idea that forests may provide the economic incentives needed to change land-use decisions, buying time for the development and deployment of low carbon-based technological innovations, is reinforced. The second paper adresses the question of optimal timber management when carbon benefits are introduced into a framework where both the price of timber and the price of land are endogenously determined. Building upon the multi vintage forest model developed by Salo and Tahvonen, the paper analyzes the problem of carbon sequestration under a forest sector scope. To compare forest carbon sequestration with avoided emissions, three different carbon accounting methods are considered: the carbon flow regime, the ton-year crediting and the average storage, where the carbon flow is the first-best solution. We compare the results obtained in each case with those without carbon sequestration, as well as the performances of the ton-year and the average storage with respect to the first-best solution on optimal land allocation between forestry and alternative uses, total carbon sequestered, timber production and social welfare, for different values of the most relevant parameters. In general, internalizing carbon sequestration benefits increases the optimal amount of land allocated to forest, and has implications to the optimal forest management. The induced impact in the timber market during the transition period depends upon the carbon accounting method generating interesting insights from the perspective of the implementation of the first-best solution. A full proof of long-run optimality of steady state forest is provided. The theoretical results are discussed based on numerical simulations that illustrate the setup’s potential. The recent recognition of the existence of possible conflicts between carbon sequestration policies and biodiversity has once more put biodiversitiy in the centre of the forestry literature debate While a complete assessment of the interactions between carbon sequestration policies and biodiversity conservation is still needed, there are previous questions in the biodivesity literature that remains to be addressed, namely, in what concerns the forest sector scope. To this end, in the third essay, biodiversity considerations are introduced into a multiple species, multi-vintage forest sector model with endogenously determined timber prices and land use allocation. Following recent ecological literature, biodiversity is modeled focusing on structural diversity, i.e, age classes and species distribution. We show that transition dynamics are strongly affected when biodiversity is introduced, contaminating both timber and land markets. Moreover, different ecological forest structures have distinct impacts on optimal land use distribution, therefore, affecting also timber prices. Finally, we observe major changes in optimal timber management. In fact, even after a long period of adjustment, optimal deviations from Faustmann’s rotation combined with changes in land use allocation still occur. The fourth essay extends the multi vintage forest model developed in the second by introducing net carbon sequestration benefits in a multiple species context. Based on the carbon flow accounting method, a full proof of long run optimality of steady state forest is provided. Based on sensitivity analysis with respect to the speed of growth, the carbon conversion factor and the amount of carbon that is stored in long-lived wood products among species, we conclude that they impact significantly on the optimal allocation of land to forest. In particular, when the fast growing species is also the one for which a lower fraction of wood is used in long-lived products, it may be optimal to allocate to the slow growing species a larger amount of land when compared to the case without carbon. Numerical simulations are performed, illustrating and confirming the results obtained

REDD in the Carbon Market: A General Equilibrium Analysis

Deforestation is a major source of CO2 emissions, accounting for around 17% of total annual anthropogenic carbon release. While the cost estimates of reducing deforestation rates vary considerably depending on model assumptions, it is widely accepted that emissions reductions from avoided deforestation consist of a relatively low cost mitigation option. Halting deforestation is therefore not only a major ecological challenge, but also a great opportunity to cost effectively reduce climate change negative impacts. In this paper we analyze the impact of introducing avoided deforestation credits into the European carbon market using a multiregional Computable General Equilibrium model – the ICES model (Inter-temporal Computable Equilibrium System). Taking into account political concerns over a possible “flooding” of REDD credits, various limits to the number of REDD allowances entering the carbon market are considered. Finally, unlike previous studies, we account for both direct and indirect effects occurring on land and timber markets resulting from lower deforestation rates. We conclude that avoided deforestation notably reduces climate change policy costs - by approximately 80% with unlimited availability of REDD credits - and may drastically reduce carbon prices. Policy makers may, however, effectively control for these imposing limits to avoided deforestation credits use. Moreover, avoided deforestation has the additional positive effect of reducing carbon leakage of a unilateral European climate change policy. This is good news for the EU, but not necessarily for REDD regions. Indeed we show that REDD revenues are not sufficient to compensate REDD regions for a less leakage-affected and more competitive EU in international markets. In fact, REDD regions would prefer to free ride on the EU unilateral mitigation policy.Forestry, Avoided Deforestation, Climate Change, Emission Trading, General Equilibrium Modelling

Investment in Small Business among International Migrants in the Estado De México

This work analyzes the productive inversions of the international remittances, the constraints that the migrants face. A non-random sample of migrants that invested remittances in business is taken in the Estadode México. The results show various types of investments, in which have influence, the family, the migratory experiences, the previous experience in business, the knowledge they brought to the return. All of them want to find an income source and not migrate again, but is noted that only who have sustainable income business, are who can build better livelihoods, while owning an unstable business causes instability in the livelihood, as well as intentions to return to abroad, Duel features are also observed, and other traits

Urban Deforestation and Urban Development

This paper has developed a model of a single forest owner operating with perfect foresight in a dynamic open-city environment that allows for switching between alternative competing land uses (forest and urban use) at some point in the future. The model also incorporates external values of an even-aged standing forest in addition to the value of timber when it is harvested. Timber is exploited based on a multiple rotation model a la Faustmann with clear-cut harvesting. In contrast to previous models, our alternative land use to forest land is endogenous. Within this framework, we study the problem of the private owner as well as that of the social planner, when choosing the time to harvest, the time to convert land and the intensity of development. We also examine the extent to which the two-way linkage between urban development and forest management practices (timber production and provision of forest amenities) contributes to economic efficiency and improvements in non-market forest benefits. Finally, we consider policy options available to a regulator seeking to achieve improvements in efficiency including anti-sprawl policies (impact fees and density controls) and forest policies such a yield tax. Numerical simulations illustrate our analytical results. JEL codes:Deforestation, Urban Development, Forest Management Practices, Anti-Sprawl Policies, Yield Taxes

Padrões biogeográficos da quiropterofauna brasileira

Dissertação (mestrado)—Universidade de Brasília, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Zoologia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Zoologia, 2015.A regionalização biogeográfica tornou-se um importante produto da biogeografia, possibilitando o entendimento de alguns padrões espaciais da biodiversidade e a formulação de hipóteses biogeográficas sobre a formação da biota, podendo também ser aplicada para determinação de áreas prioritárias e outras estratégias de conservação. Tendo em vista a falta de informações sobre os padrões de distribuição dos morcegos brasileiros, este trabalho visa identificar os padrões de congruência na distribuição dos morcegos brasileiros reconhecendo as áreas de maior endemicidade. Para isto, foi conduzida uma Análise de Endemicidade utilizando o programa NDM, onde a distribuição das espécies foi representada pelos pontos de ocorrência conhecidos e por modelos de distribuição de espécies (SDM) feitos pelo programa MaxEnt utilizando variáveis de precipitação, temperatura, topografia e vegetação. Foram identificados cinco padrões de distribuição para os morcegos brasileiros, sendo eles: “Região Norte”, “Centro-Nordeste”, “Centro-Leste”, “Centro-Sudeste” e “Domínios Florestais”. Os padrões de distribuição dos morcegos se mostraram associados a processos relacionados com a dinâmica de formações vegetais brasileiras, sendo identificados padrões distintos associados às formações abertas e formações florestais. As principais áreas de endemismo identificadas foram denominadas "Região Norte", associada à Amazônia brasileira e o Escudo das Guianas, e "Centro-Nordeste" associada à Caatinga e sua transição com o Cerrado. Também foram identificadas áreas de endemismo associadas ao Cerrado e Serra do Mar. A recente descrição de novas espécies se mostrou fundamental para a identificação dos padrões identificados, e sugiro que essas regiões de alta endemicidade possam ainda esconder grande diversidade críptica de morcegos.Biogeographic regionalization has become an important product of biogeography, enabling the understanding of some spatial patterns of biodiversity and the development of biogeographical hypotheses on the biota formation, and can also be applied to determine priority areas and other conservation strategies. Given the lack of information on the distribution patterns of Brazilian bats, this paper aims to identify the matching patterns in the distribution of Brazilian bats, recognizing the areas of highest endemicity. For this, I conducted an endemicity analysis using the NDM software, where the distribution of species was represented by the known occurrence points and species distribution models (SDM) made on MaxEnt using variables of precipitation, climate, topography, and vegetation. Five distribution patterns were identified for Brazilian bats, as follows: "Northern Region", "Central-Northeast", "Central-Southeast", "Central-East", and "Forest Domains". Bats distribution patterns were associated with processes related to the dynamics of Brazilian vegetation, in which distinct patterns were associated with open formations and forest formations. The main areas of endemism identified were named "Northern Region", linked to the Brazilian Amazon and the Guyana Shield, and "Central Northeast" associated with the Caatinga and its transition to the Cerrado. I also identified areas of endemism associated with the Brazilian Shield and Cerrado. The recent description of new species proved critical information to the identification of patterns of endemism, and suggest that these regions of high endemicity still can hide great cryptic diversity of bats

A questão da alteridade no ensino dos direitos humanos e a experiência do PIBID

Anais do II Seminário Seminário Estadual PIBID do Paraná: tecendo saberes / organizado por Dulcyene Maria Ribeiro e Catarina Costa Fernandes — Foz do Iguaçu: Unioeste; Unila, 2014O presente artigo possui por objetivo refletir sobre a dimensão da alteridade no ensino dos Direitos Humanos a partir da experiência do Pibid. Considerando o método fenomenológico, e a partir de pesquisa bibliográfica, pretende-se investigar sobre a noção de Homem que fundamenta a Declaração Universal dos Direitos Humanos, a fim de evidenciar a negação da alteridade que essa concepção implica. Em contraste com a concepção de Homem eurocêntrico que está na base da Declaração, propomos pensar o ensino dos Direitos Humanos a partir da noção de alteridade, de modo que o educador, ao falar sobre Direitos Humanos em sala de aula, possa contextualizar criticamente conforme a cultura de cada educand