What mechanisms are currently available for forest conservation in the tropics? Conservation has always been approached by a number of sectors including biology, political science, economics, and social science. But these perspectives and their associated agencies have historically worked in separate spheres, with little collaboration. Today it is essential that a holistic approach be taken and that the different fields are incorporated together into conservation schemes, and economists comprise an important part of this holistic view.
The Yale Chapter of the International Society for Tropical Foresters

It is imperative to include economics in conservation planning in order to demonstrate the potential benefits of sustainable forest management. Payment for environmental services is one of the tools environmental economists use to support forest conservation and has great potential for the conservation of tropical forests. This term encompasses a wide scope of activities including carbon credits, bio-prospecting, watershed protection, soil conservation, tax credits and ecotourism.
The Yale Chapter of the International Society for Tropical Foresters expect that this conference will serve as a forum to discuss the various types of payment for environmental services, the issues associated with each type, and the successes and failures to date. The discussion will be driven by questions such as:  Can payment for environmental services mechanisms lead to conservation? Can such mechanisms be as economically viable as other uses? How can these methods be better integrated into conservation and management plans?

What are the potential negative consequences from the standpoints of conservation, local livelihoods, and economic optimization? How can active trading markets for ecosystem services be developed? Are payments for avoided deforestation and reduced carbon emissions feasible? Will tax credit programs be viable in the long term?

We encourage abstracts based on primary research, or personal or institutional experience. Selected participants will present full papers at the conference. Abstracts should be a maximum of 500 words, and all correspondence will be addressed to the principal author.

Yale ISTF Conference
c/o Tropical Resource Institute
Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies
210 Prospect Street, New Haven, CT 06511
Web site: http://www.yale.edu/istf/
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

In your response, please include the following:
Name(s) of the author(s)
Title and abstract of the paper to be presented
Institution(s) or organization(s) of author(s)' affiliation(s)
Address, telephone, fax and e-mail
of the principal author

Please send abstracts by December 15, 2006, electronically or by mail:
Yale ISTF Conference
c/o Tropical Resource Institute
Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies
210 Prospect Street, New Haven, CT 06511
Web site: http://www.yale.edu/istf/
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.