Economic instruments (EIs) are meant to conserve the environment and regulate natural resource use, but the level of fees, taxes and performance bonds they currently employis too low to have any significant effect. Consumers and producers prefer to pay fines rather than change unsustainable use patterns.
This issue was extensively discussed at the Forum-Workshop on Economic Instruments Applied in Environmental and Natural Resource Management in Southeast Asia, heldfrom September26-28, 2011, in Bali, Indonesia. SEARCA and EEPSEA co-organized the event.Eighteen government officials and researchers from China, Viet Nam, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines participated.
The workshopproceedings and several booklets focusing on the application of EIs in environmental and natural resource managementin SEA will be developed by SEARCA. These publications are expected to be completed by early 2012 and will be available on EEPSEA’s website.More information on the forum-workshop is available at http://beta.searca.org/searca/index.php/knowledge-management/learning-events/natural-resources-management/631-forum-workshop-on-economic-instruments-applied-in-environmental-a-natural-resource-management-in-southeast-asia