This report examines the ways in which economic liberalisation has affected the forestry sector. Drawing on a global survey, data is compiled for 23 countries. The information is pulled together to highlight trends in three principal areas: private sector participation, market-based instruments and restructuring forestry authorities. The report goes on to identify three policy measures with special promise for encouraging sustainable forestry: certification, company-community partnerships and measures to encourage private sector involvement in conservation.

In 1992, the Government of Mexico initiated a new national water law which decentralised water resources management and allowed the market transfer of water-use concessions between individual irrigators. These reforms were expected to improve water resources management through greater user participation in irrigation management, as well as to increase irrigators’ incentives to improve water-use efficiency. At the time of its proposal the 1992 Federal Water Law was considered to be the first step in the establishment of limited water markets. This paper addresses the opportunities and constraints to improved water resource use and allocation through the market incentives that result from transferable water-use permits. The paper reviews water allocation institutions in Mexico and provides case studies of water allocation and decision-making.