Developing country forests sustain livelihoods, help to control flooding, recharge aquifers, pollinate crops, cycle nutrients, harbor biodiversity, and sequester carbon. As a result, forest loss and degradation have serious environmental and socioeconomic consequences. Decentralization and devolution of governance have arguably been the most important policy trend affecting developing countries’ forests over the past three decades.

Abstract

Highlights

•  Avoiding 1% of catchment's forest loss reduces chemicals use by 0.026% in Costa Rica.

• Improving the turbidity by 1% decreases 0.005% aluminum sulfate needed at the water plants.

• The value of water purification service by forests is USD 9.5 per hectare per year.

• The contribution of forest (per ha) becomes larger as the size of the catchment decreases.