This is the 7th edition of the FAO's biennial report on the state of global forest resources, recent developments and emerging issues in the forest sector. This edition focuses on progress towards sustainable forest management at the regional and global levels, with each regional report structured according to seven thematic elements: the extent of forest resources; biological diversity; forest health and vitality; productive functions of forest resources; protective functions of forest resources; socio-economic functions; and legal, policy and institutional frameworks. These summaries are based on the most current information available, including new data from the Global Forest Resources Assessment 2005 (FRA 2005). The report goes on to consider 18 key issues in the forest sector, including: climate change, forest landscape restoration, forest tenure, invasive species, wildlife management and wood energy. The overall conclusion is that whilst progress is being made, it is very uneven with those regions with developing economies and tropical ecosystems continuing to lose forest area whilst lacking adequate institutions to reverse this trend. The biggest limitation for evaluating progress is weak data, with many countries lacking the financial resources to undertake national forest assessments.

The 2012 edition of State of the Worlds Forests focuses on the critical role that forests play in sustainable production and consumption systems. In this milestone tenth edition of FAOs flagship forestry publication, it is appropriate to take a look back to understand the important role that forests and forestry have played in shaping the world as it is today. This publication has informed readers about the status and changes in the worlds forests, forest products and ecosystem services, and forest policies since the series was introduced in 1995.

This is the sixth edition of the biennial report on the current state of global forest resources and recent developments and emerging issues in the forest sector. It includes contributions from key non-governmental organisations and from individuals, as well as articles written by FAO staff. This edition focuses on options for sustainable forestry management to maximise the sector's economic viability, and issues discussed include forest resources, conservation aspects, institutional issues and legal frameworks, international policy developments, the economic benefits of agroforestry, wood energy production, import tariffs and non-tariff measures, and the impact of violent conflicts on forest resources.

The publication was prepared based on information provided by 86 countries, outcomes from regional and subregional consultations and commissioned thematic studies. It includes: •an overview of definitions and concepts related to Forest Genetic Resources (FGR) and a review of their value; •a description of the main drivers of changes; •the presentation of key emerging technologies; •an analysis of the current status of FGR conservation, use and related developments; •recommendations addressing the challenges and needs. By the FAO Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.

Published biennially, this title offers a global view of major developments affecting forests. It places more emphasis on the 'demand side': What will be the impact on forests of future increases in global population, economic development and globalization?. "State of the World's Forests", published biennially, provides a global view of major developments affecting forests. The theme for the 2009 edition is 'Society, forests and forestry: adapting for the future'. The 2007 issue reviewed 'Progress towards sustainable forest management' with an emphasis on the 'supply side', in particular forest resources. "State of the World's Forests 2009" places more emphasis on the 'demand side': What will be the impact on forests of future increases in global population, economic development and globalization? Is the explosion in global trade having positive or negative effects on the world's forests? Will the forest sector continue to have a major role in providing livelihoods for rural communities? This eighth edition looks forward. Part One summarizes the outlook for forests and forestry in each region of the world. FAO periodically carries out regional forest sector outlook studies in collaboration with countries and organizations in each region. The results of studies for all regions are summarized and presented here for the first time in a single publication. A main pattern that emerges is a strong correlation between economic development and the state of forests. Countries that are undergoing rapid economic growth tend to struggle with immense pressures on their forests. In contrast, regions that have already achieved a high level of economic development are usually able to stabilize or increase their forest area. However, the factors affecting forests are numerous and complex, making it difficult to draw simple conclusions or to make reliable projections. Part Two considers how forestry will have to adapt for the future. It begins with a global outlook for wood products demand to 2030, noting changing patterns in production, consumption and trade. Next, a chapter on environmental services of forests probes the various market and non-market mechanisms evolving to help forests and trees fulfill their environmental service functions of land, water and biodiversity protection, carbon storage and others. A look at progress in institutional adaptation notes that many forestry institutions are having difficulty in adapting to rapid changes in communications, globalisation and society's expectations. Those institutions that are willing and able to adapt are more likely to be successful in the future. Finally, Part Two examines developments in science and technology, which will continue to have an enormous impact on the future of forests and forestry. Imagine a world in which trees are a major source of fuel for cars, replacing oil. Only a few years ago this seemed like fantasy, but today the possibility must be seriously considered

This book offers information and insights into the potential of market and policy instruments in improving the state of the world's forests. It advocates the use of the concept of optimal mix of markets and policies as an approach to view the appropriate and operational roles of market and government in dealing with forestry issues. It does not offer a list of policy recommendations to be used as a general tool to combat the threats facing the world's forests. Obviously, the optimal mix of markets and policies must depend on the varying national and local conditions and, more specifically, on the level of development.

With a vast river network and rainforests extending over eight South American countries, the Amazon plays a vital role particularly in maintaining biodiversity and terrestrial carbon storage. Due to its ecological characteristics, the Amazon benefits not only those countries but also the international community at large. However, the Amazon forests are being rapidly cleared with a consequent loss of biodiversity and impact on global climate. This book examines whether international law has an impact on the preservation of the Amazon by inquiring into the forms of cooperation that exist among the Amazon countries, and between them and the international community, and to what extent international cooperation can help protect the Amazon. Given the role of this region in maintaining the balance of the global environment, the book examines whether the Amazon should be granted a special legal status and possible implications in terms of international cooperation.

This book provides a uniquely detailed and systematic comparison of environmental forest policies and enforcement in twenty countries worldwide, covering developed, transition and developing economies. The goal is to enhance global policy learning and promote well-informed and precisely-tuned policy solutions.

Strongly grounded in the scientific method and evidence, The Environment: Science, Issues, and Solutions presents an organized, accessible, building block approach that introduces the principles of ecology. This book examines the effects of technology use and the unprecedented economic growth and development that has tipped the natural balance of the environment, resulting in serious local, regional, and global environmental problems. This comprehensive text explores the need for interrelated long-term solutions for the prevention and mitigation of environmental problems.

While deforestation continues at an alarming rate around the world, discussions on the range of underlying causes continue. The premise is that studying successful transitions from deforestation to sustainable forestry ex post in Finland can provide novel insights into how deforestation in the tropics might be reduced in the future. Our fundamental question here is why Finland succeeded to stop deforestation for a century ago and why not the same is feasible in the contemporary tropical countries? This book presents a novel integrated theory within which this case study on Finland and contemporary modeling of underlying causes of tropical deforestation are developed. Finland remains the world’s second largest net exporter of forest products, while maintaining the highest forest cover in Europe. A transition from deforestation to sustainable industrial forestry took place in Finland during the first part of the 20th century. The underlying causes of this transition are compared via our theory with deforestation in 74 contemporary tropical countries. Both appear similar and support our theory. The interaction of public policies and market institutions has appeared to be critical during this transition. The study’s findings suggest that private forest ownership with a continuous increase in the real value of forests and alleviation of poverty under non-corruptive conditions has been a necessary, but not a sufficient, condition for this transition. In a parallel way public policies have also proved to be a necessary, but not sufficient, condition in this transition. The conclusion is that socialistic forestry along with corruption is artificially maintaining too low values in the tropical forests. The opportunity cost of sustainable forestry remains too high and deforestation by extensification of agriculture therefore continues. The prevailing socialistic forestry with dominating public forest ownership is by purpose maintaining administratively set low stumpage prices leading to low value of forests, wide corruption and continuous forest degradation and deforestation. An effective remedy – to raise the value of forests - is found to be within forestry.