Pobreza, deforestación y sus eventuales implicaciones para la biodiversidad en Guatemala

This paper explores the causes of deforestation and its possible implications on biodiversity loss in Guatemala. At the regional level, an empirical analysis indicates that agricultural activities remain closely tied to deforestation because of the virtual absence of non-environmental assets of the rural poor. In this context, the excessive establishment of integrated conservation and development projects appears to deliver a relatively poor outcome. The paper concludes that strengthening the non-farm sector and human capital formation should be regarded as key elements of a development strategy that tries to combine the conservation of forest biodiversity and rural poverty alleviation.