Level 1 - Summary on Forests and Forestry

1. What is a forest?
2. How much forest is there in the world?
3. Is the area of forest changing?
4. What is driving these losses in forest cover?
5. Do forests influence the environment, the climate and humanity?
6. What is biodiversity and why is it important?
7. What are some of the ways in which forests are being managed today?

1. What is a forest?

1.1. Forests have been given many different definitions, based either on legal land use classifications or on the type of vegetation. More...

1.2. There are three main forest types corresponding to specific climatic regions (biomes): the tropical forest, the temperate forest and the boreal forest. Within these biomes, there are several forest types distinguishable by their species composition, productivity and/or crown closure. More...

1.3. There is very little natural forest left because of the impact of human activities. However 40% of the total forest area is known as frontier forest because it remains relatively undisturbed and it has maintained its biodiversity. Some 'pristine' areas such as the Amazon forest have actually been affected by human settlements prior to western colonization. More...

2. How much forest is there in the world?

2.1. Figures range from 33.36 million km² (WRI) to 39.88 million km² (WCMC). The FAO estimate in 2000 was 38.7 million km² of forested land. More...

2.2. The FAO figures tend to be the reference but they are challenged with respect to the rate of change in forest loss and their use of varying forest definitions. More...

2.3. Estimates differ because forested land is difficult to measure and there are constant changes in land use. The data collection method is also changing: from manual measurement to aerial photography and satellite imagery. More...

3. Is the area of forest changing?

3.1. According to the FAO 94,000 km² (0.24%) of forests have been lost yearly from 1990 to 2000, mainly in tropical areas. But forest clearance for agriculture and urban settlements is not a new phenomenon. More...

3.2. Between pessimists and optimists, the estimates of tropical forest loss vary considerably, but they are now converging between 120,000 km² to 160,000 km² per year (0.5% to 0.9%). Plantations with limited species and intensive management are often counted as forest, but this is controversial. More...

4. What is driving these losses in forest cover?

4.1. The most common natural causes of forest loss come from windstorms, diseases (like the Chestnut blight or the Dutch Elm) or natural fires. More...

4.2. Human-related causes of forest loss are numerous:

• Conversion for agricultural uses and infrastructure development.
• Harvesting for timber, pulp and paper, fuel-wood and charcoal.
• Fires set off by human activities.
• Acid rain, atmospheric pollutants and radiation.
• Destruction in the course of warfare. More...

4.3. There are some indirect factors causing deforestation:

• Population increases, although these can also be positive.
• In developing countries, poverty causes the clearance of more land to grow food and cash crops.
• Some laws, land ownership systems, perverse economic policies and poor governance. More...

6. What is biodiversity and why is it important?

6.1. Biodiversity is the variability of living organisms. It is an important resource but also holds less tangible values to many. More...

6.2. There is a consensus on the importance of biodiversity but debate about the extent of loss, because biodiversity is difficult to measure. One way in which biodiversity is impacted is the fragmentation of forests, which isolates species. More...

6.3. Bioprospecting is the exploration and commercial exploitation of wild plants and animals for valuable genetic resources. Unequal relations between North and South affect the way biodiversity is exploited. The Convention on Biological Diversity is giving sovereignty of biodiversity to nations. More...

7. What are some of the ways in which forests are being managed today?

7.1. Forest management of all kinds have a long history. The origins of today's conventional forest management systems are in northern Europe. But this model is difficult to integrate into other contexts. More...

7.2. Some forest management strategies could help reduce forest loss and degradation by integrating the concept of sustainability and stewardship. Forest policies can attempt to locally limit loss and degradation of forests. Here are some alternative management technologies and systems:

• Ecological Forestry.
• Agroforestry.
• Indigenous forest management systems.
• Partnerships between forest agencies and local communities.
• Carbon trading in the framework of the Kyoto protocol.
• Certification schemes that empower consumers.
  More...