Three essays on tropical forest economics : the case of Gabon.

Summary The following three essays focus on forest management in Gabon. The heterogeneity of countries and contexts does not allow for a single model of forest land allocation or management. Consequently, the external validity of country-specific research results is fragile. However, the difficulty of obtaining general results should not hinder monographic research, as forest policies need to be assessed in their national context. For this reason, this research focuses on one country in particular: Gabon. Through three essays, it proposes a reflection on the difficult reconciliation of economic development issues and the allocation of forest resources. The thesis is structured as follows: the first chapter analyzes the policy of banning log exports and its results, the second chapter studies the link between the practices of logging companies and their impacts on the local population, and the last chapter examines the situation of workers in the natural rubber sector and that of independent producers.