The jungle is the habitat for millions of species. Not only does it play an important role in our economy in providing timber and non-timber products, but it also provides such environmental services as carbon sequestration and the conservation of biodiversity. For these reasons, it is important to guarantee the sustainable use of the Peruvian Amazon forest. Sustainability involves meeting present human needs without endangering the welfare of future generations; however, it does not imply failing to take advantage of the growth opportunities that the forest offers.Madre de Dios is a Peruvian department of enormous natural wealth, but lacking in infrastructure and with a poorly developed timber sector (which is the region’s most important source of economic activity). How do we explain the low impactthat the growth of the timber sector has had on the living conditions for people living...

The jungle is the habitat for millions of species. Not only does it play an important role in our economy in providing timber and non-timber products, but it also provides such environmental services as carbon sequestration and the conservation of biodiversity. For these reasons, it is important to guarantee the sustainable use of the Peruvian Amazon forest. Sustainability involves meeting present human needs without endangering the welfare of future generations; however, it does not imply failing to take advantage of the growth opportunities that the forest offers. Madre de Dios is a Peruvian department of enormous natural wealth, but lacking in infrastructure and with a poorly developed timber sector (which is the region’s most important source of economic activity). How do we explain the low impactthat the growth of the timber sector has had on the living conditions for people livin...