Stephen Bass

The role of policy and institutions

People have very different interests in tropical forests. Whilst some assert that forests are needed to store carbon, others are looking to carve off a piece of forest to convert into a farm. Interests in forests range from those which are central to an individual’s livelihood or a corporation’s viability, to the opinions and aesthetic preferences of those who live far away. Interests may be backed by strong political influence, legal rights and resources, or by none of these. The actual impact of these different interests on forests therefore varies from place to place. The job of policy includes balancing such interests, and charting paths to solve problems created by the excessive influence of some, and by the lack of influence of others. This chapter examines how policy, and the institutions charged with developing and implementing it, currently fare in the rapidly changing context of tropical forests.