Quantifying the returns on soil conservation in Kitui and Machakos areas of Kenya.

Abstract

This paper presents some empirical estimates of the returns on conservation in a semi-arid region in Kenya. An approach based on cost-benefit is proposed, allowing available bio-physical and economic information to be integrated into a single, consistent analytical framework. The results provide insights into numerous aspects of the soil conservation problem and the potential importance of credit constraints and other market failures in preventing these problems from being addressed.