It does work. Besides, you don't need to pay people not to do things. Just punish them if they do. If I were to cut down my trees, I'd have to pay fines. If it

It does work. Besides, you don't need to pay people not to do things. Just punish them if they do. If I were to cut down my trees, I'd have to pay fines. If it weren't easier to slash and burn, they'd find ways to grow profitable crops in, or otherwise utilize, the existing forest. Costa Rica changed its economy from fishing to tourism fairly effectively. Just have a conversation with a fisherman turned whale boat operator for some good lessons on that next time you're down there. Pay no attention to the vast palm tree plantations that decimated the natural forest though. That's a side point.