Tropical Forest Transitions and Globalization: Neo-Liberalism, Migration, Tourism, and International Conservation Agendas

Background

Deforestation is giving way to forest regeneration in some tropical regions. This paper uses two case studies to investigate such ‘forest transitions’ in two biodiversity-rich countries, Costa Rica and Madagascar.

Research goals & methods

A case study near the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica shows how synergies between international conservation ideologies, neoliberal reforms, tourism (and associated real estate investment), and migration (as one strategy for livelihood diversification) lead to increased forest cover. These features are widespread in Costa Rica as a whole. In Madagascar, by contrast, while the features are present to varying degrees, similar trends are largely absent.

Conclusions & takeaways

While the findings of this study may appear consistent with such models based on processes of modernization, they are useful only with reference to the dynamics of globalization. The authors conclude that globalization has diverse impacts shaped by regional contexts; these can include the benefits of reforestation but also the costs of social marginalization.