Orangutans and the Economics of Sustainable Forest Management in Sumatra

Deforestation is responsible for approximately 17% of global greenhouse gas emissions, and is therefore a major contributor to climate change, but also to the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services and a direct threat to Asia's great ape, the orangutan. This book offers an overview of the many ecosystem services that the orangutan's forest habitat provides in Sumatra and how estimates for revenue from payments for ecosystem service schemes compare with revenue from other land to use scenarios. This report also aims to emphasize the strong link that exists between biodiversity, ecosystem services and human well-being, to raise awareness and to seek more careful management of natural resources.