Joshua Posner

Pine or Pasture? Estimated Costs and Benefits of Land Use Change in the Peruvian Andes

Abstract In the Peruvian sierra near the city of Cajamarca, livelihood options of extensive grazing and plantation forestry often conflict with ecosystem services provided by the native jalca grasslands where these land uses are undertaken. This study estimates financial returns for local landowners for grazing livestock and plantation forestry and compares these values with estimated values for environmental services under each land use. Results of the estimated financial returns to landowners suggest that the profitability of each land use varies significantly because of local variation in grassland productivity, proximity to the village, and rates of time preference. In comparison to the financial returns to each land use, resulting values for environmental services were relatively high in magnitude, especially for the ecosystem service of water provision, suggesting that in most cases, overgrazing and pine plantations in the jalca will yield net economic losses at the national level. Regarding pine plantations in particular, the value for increased carbon sequestration was outweighed by the value of expected losses in water provision for irrigation, suggesting that a potential market based on carbon could yield net economic losses if water is not considered. The paper concludes that rural development can be best achieved in the study area by promoting conservation of the jalca, encouraging low-impact grazing practices, and targeting pine plantations only for areas of the jalca that are already degraded.

The Watershed as an Organizing Principle for Research and Development: An Evaluation of Experience in the Andean Ecoregion

Abstract Watersheds are an attractive unit for development in mountainous landscapes. However, watershed analysis usually requires significantly more time, data and funds, and must include more actors. Also, results may be disappointing. Many off-site effects are very difficult to modify without major changes in land use systems. Frequently, these land use changes (eg more pasture or reforestation) pit soil conservation against rural employment. In other cases, sediment may not be originating on-farm, but primarily in other parts of the landscape, implying civil engineering rather than on-farm solutions. On the other hand, we have found that good maps and valid models are of growing interest to municipal authorities as they consider alternative development plans.

The Consortium for Sustainable Development in the Andean Ecoregion (CONDESAN)

• Natural resource management and rural poverty are multidisciplinary themes that can best be addressed by a consortium of institutions. • The impact of quality work being done in the Andes can be reinforced through the creation of an electronic information exchange and sharing mechanism (InfoAndina). • There is a need for more local and political alliances, focusing on nongovernmental organization (NGO) partners, regional universities, producer groups, and local governments, in order to deal with the core issues of poverty and resource management. • CONDESAN would not create additional organizational infrastructure but would be a virtual entity, working primarily through its partners.