Courses objectives
To provide students with the fundamentals of forest ecosystem economics. The course aims to provide the theoretical foundations of environmental economics (value, externalities, public goods); to highlight the historical evolution of these concepts and their application to specific tropical forest ecosystems (dry forests, rainforests, mangroves). Real-world scenarios, based on case studies conducted by the instructors themselves, will highlight the practical nature of this module.
Course contents
The course will aim to provide a foundation in the concepts and practical tools of the economics of tropical ecosystems. On the one hand, attention will be given to key concepts such as total economic value, ecosystem services, public goods, etc. The course will also focus on understanding the various ways to approach these concepts in light of different approaches to environmental economic analysis (e.g., standard economics vs. ecological economics). A more historical perspective will also help contextualize recent developments that have led to international initiatives such as The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (www.teebweb.org/). These initiatives promote an economic approach to ecosystem management, whether at the (inter)national policy level or at the level of development projects—whether to assess the costs of inaction or to promote payments for ecosystem services (PES). However, having noted that these assessment methods have primarily been implemented in Western countries, it will be necessary to demonstrate how adaptations are required in tropical forest regions, particularly in low-income countries. Case studies in Madagascar (the Mikea Forest, the tapia forest in Arivonimamo) will illustrate these points by placing students in real-world scenarios (multicriteria assessment using Excel). Other case studies will be presented, such as the economic analysis of forest uses in Cameroon or the analysis of land degradation and desertification in the Sahelian region of Africa. The module will also address the assessment of ecosystem services in mangrove areas.
Teaching and learning methods
Courses in the form of 3-hour blocks alternating analysis of concepts and theories and case studies. Intervention of specialists.
Course evaluation
Individual examination.
Target skills
Skills to be acquired: the ability to understand the economic terminology used by stakeholders in tropical ecosystem management (NGOs, donors, experts, government agencies, etc.); the ability to analyze its characteristics, challenges, and limitations; and an introduction to economic analysis.