The disignations employed and the presentation of material in this publication do not imply the expression of any option whatsoever on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory , city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.

M-36
ISBN 92-5-103370-6

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without the prior permission, with a statement of the purpose and extend of the reproduction, should be addressed to the Director, Publications Division, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00100 Rome, Italy.

© FAO 1993

Contents

Preface

Acknowledgements

Chapter 1 Sustainability in a changing world

The evolving concept of sustainability
An historical perspective

Chapter 2 The world's forests

Temperate and boreal forests
Tropical forests

Tropical rain forests
Moist deciduous forests
Forests of the dry ant very dry zones
Tropical upland formations

Deforestation and its impacts

Chapter 3 Why are forests important?

Forest for wood and energy
Non-wood forest products
Forests as dwelling places
Environmental benefits of forests
Genetic resources and biodiversity
Forests and global climate
Forest myths

Chapter 4 Dealing with conflicting interests

Facing the problem
Taking an economic view

Chapter 5 Forest management options

Clarifying objectives
Management approaches
Forest management in progress

Temperate and boreal forests
Moist tropical forests
Dry tropical forests
Conserving genetic resources and biodiversity
Trees in the landscape, agroforestry and urban forestry
Protecting forests against fire, insects and disease
Plantations

Chapter 6 Laws, institutions anti people

Regulatory framework
Forestry services and public administrations

Privatization
Training
Research

Involving rural people
The role of non-governmental organizations

Chapter 7 The international dimension

International organizations and agreements
The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development
Debt for-nature swaps
Genetic materials and medicines from the forests
Consumer boycotts

Chapter 8 The way ahead

The broader development perspective
An agenda for action

Forestry in land use
Rural development
Institutional action
Planning
Forest conservation through management

Annex 1

References