This book studies land use change in tropical landscapes, with particular emphasis on the economic processes that influence rates of land degradation and forest clearing. Multidisciplinary contributions draw lessons from a rich, decade-long collection of economic, social, and environmental data on the Manupali upland watershed in the southern Philippines. Through this detailed case study, the book documents forces leading to land use changes, in particular the potential impacts of institutional evolution and policy reforms, and highlights interrelationships between biological, economic, and social phenomena. The work is the result of a long-term project from the Sustainable Agriculture and Natural Resource Management Collaborative Research Support Program (SANREP CRSP), funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).