Figure 4. Effects governance g' as a one-time penalty for deforestation, and forest recovery rate μ.

Plot representing the fraction of forested land at equilibrium (x*) versus forest recovery rate (μ). g is the governance coefficient, representing a penalty at the time of deforestation. (A) illustrates landowners employing best choice decision-making with larger values of utility received (b' = 5 000, c' = 20 000). (B) represents b' = 5 and c' = 20 (C) illustrates landowners employing probabilistic decision-making with smaller values of received utility (b' = 0.0005 and c' = 0.002). As g'→10 000 (i.e. greatest incentive to maintain forest cover) forest conservation prevails, independent of μ.