Page "Deforestation" Paragraph 12

The degradation of forest ecosystems has also been traced to economic incentives that make forest conversion appear more profitable than forest conservation.

Many important forest functions have no markets, and hence, no economic value that is readily apparent to the forests ' owners or the communities that rely on forests for their well-being.

From the perspective of the developing world, the benefits of forest as carbon sinks or biodiversity reserves go primarily to richer developed nations and there is insufficient compensation for these services.

Developing countries feel that some countries in the developed world, such as the United States of America, cut down their forests centuries ago and benefited greatly from this deforestation, and that it is hypocritical to deny developing countries the same opportunities: that the poor shouldn't have to bear the cost of preservation when the rich created the problem.