Scholars and practitioners have repeatedly called for more and better impact evaluation of conservation policies. This PLOS ONE collection brings together a series of studies that evaluate the effectiveness of tropical forest conservation policies and programs, such as protected areas, forest law enforcement, payments for ecosystem services, certification, and community-based forest management. It contributes by: (1) evaluating both conservation and development outcomes of a variety of interventions in diverse conservation contexts in Latin America, Asia, and Africa; and (2) highlighting methodological challenges and research priorities for building a systematic evidence base in conservation policy research.

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