Gambling and scrambling: betting on trees for biodiversity

The farmer set the stage: as relatives and neighbours crowded around, he borrowed research scientist Hanna Ihli’s laptop, put it on the small table outside his village home, rolled the dice across its closed lid, and won a cool 170,000 Ugandan shillings (about USD 45).

‘My dear wife, hand me my coat. I am going to town to celebrate!’ he announced after completing an experiment designed to measure his appetite for risk. ‘With the rest of the money, I will buy one goat.’

Perhaps a more sensible investment that would boost his family’s modest livelihood.