Paper short abstract:

Conservation programmes offer a potentially cost-effective way to both reduce deforestation and benefit livelihoods. We discuss recent policy instruments implemented in Sierra Leone and argue that a key mechanism explaining divergent impacts relates to labour constraints.

Paper long abstract:

Reducing deforestation is a major policy concern in developing countries. Conservation programmes offer a potentially cost-effective way to reduce carbon emissions and impact livelihoods. Yet these programmes come in many forms. We focus on the protection of tropical forest ecosystems in buffer zone areas around protected parks where the scope of instating mandatory restrictions are limited. Specifically, we present findings from evaluating several policy instruments implemented in Sierra Leone around the Gola Rainforest National Park. We find that unconditional benefits provided to communities increase land clearance in the short run. On the other hand, programmes that stimulate forest friendly agriculture and cash crop intensification achieve the opposite. These divergent results indicate that the type of programming matters for achieving environmental benefits. In particular whether programmes relax binding labour constraints appears to be an important mechanism.