Poverty, commodity prices and agricultural deforestation: lessons from the Ecuadorean coast

摘要: Deforestation literature commonly associates rising commodity prices with forest loss. Informal interviews in Manabf, Ecuador suggested that corn crops from conversion are often abandoned before harvest. Medium-resolution satellite imagery was used to formally measure the of cornfields. Between 2000 and 2005, despite a 185% increase real domestic prices, coastal experienced 2.2% total forested area. This observed gain contradicts widely cited FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment deforestation rates. A multi-disciplinary approach brings into question utility national level patterns sub-regional decision-making. When conducting future research, scholars must consider original scale measurement applying past estimates.