The Invisible Hand in Nature’s Basket: Reflections on the Sustainability of Economic Valuations

Abstract

In this paper Arne Harms offers conceptual and methodological reflections on the virtues, dangers and hybridizations of carbon sequestration in the Global South, a subset of PES programs, from an anthropological perspective. He shows that the theory and practice of carbon sequestration shares possible links with efforts towards equity and more sustainable forms of development. Against this background he argues that experimentation and an emphasis on ethnography as method might be helpful to steer safe of PES’ pitfalls and realize some of its promises.

Information & image source: IGCS, Link (25 July 2017)

Biographical Note

Dr. Arne Harms (SFB 1199 & Institute of Anthropology, Leipzig University, Germany)
Arne Harms is an anthropologist working on environment, mobility, and technology in the Global South. Currently, he is investigating carbon forestry in India. He obtained a PhD for a study of environmental displacement and resettlement in the Indian Sundarbans (Free University of Berlin, 2014). His other major research project was concerned with masculinity and ritual practice in the Caribbean state of Guyana. He has held positions in Berlin, Cologne, and Munich as well as at Nalanda University in India.