| This dissertation analyzes ecologically sensitive areas in developing countries with a particular focus on the economic valuation of their fragile ecosystems and the social implications of their management. The author argues that in order to successfully meet the challenge of achieving sustainable land utilization policies, developing countries must strike a balance between conservation and economic development while concurrently taking into account the demand for natural resources by the local communities that often depend on these resources for their subsistence.; The dissertation is divided into three sections--forestry, wildlife, and water--in an effort to, better understand the role that each sector plays in the management of a developing country's complex ecosystem. It is important to note, however, that the relationship between these sectors is muitifaceted and by discussing one, the others will undoubtedly come into play. For example, the causes of soil erosion are several and interrelated: as more people live and work on the land, the resulting expansion of the agricultural frontier results in the cultivation of steeper lands in the upper watershed and the shortening of the fallow period in other areas. In addition, deforestation is a contributing factor to soil erosion and overgrazing of the area can have a devastating impact on soil structure.; The first section of this dissertation presents an economic analysis of the forestry sector in Mozambique. The second section analyzes new economic techniques for estimating non-timber forest values, with a particular emphasis on wildlife utilization as an economic opportunity to alleviate rural poverty and preserve Mozambique's biodiversity. The third and final section focuses on water and, in particular, presents an analysis of the complex relationship and interdependencies between land, water, and people.; The data for the empirical analysis was collected with two surveys, one administered to the tourists in the Kruger National Park (RSA) and the other to the local population of Coutada 16 (Mozambique). The two economic methods used to analyze the survey data are the travel cost method and the contingent valuation method. |
