Year of publication 1992

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Author Office of Assistant Director-General (Forestry Department)

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Product type Document

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Edition 1

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Synopsis (short abstract) In the late 1970s end early 1980s, forestry in arid zones tended to concentrate on the establishment of large-scale plantations of exotic species, aimed exclusively at timber or fuelwood production. To do this, large areas of the "useless brush" on which local people depended for fuel, food and fodder have been cleared. In the development of agricultural schemes or irrigation projects, natural tree formations have often been eliminated, leading to increased erosion and subsequent losses in produ ctivity and shortened life spans of reservoirs. However, although the overall trend is still unsatisfactory, there is growing evidence of a change in thinking on the part of foresters and land-use managers concerned with arid zones. This issue of Unasylva evidences this change in perspective as well as the positive results that may be obtained as a consequence.

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Language English

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Also available in:

• French
• Spanish

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