Sustaining the World’s Forests: Managing Competing Demands for a Vital Resource – The Role of the World Bank

Abstract

With its 250-year history, Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) is now viewed as a model for managing forests worldwide. Yet despite the frequent use of the term there remain many questions concerning its meanings, criteria as well as its practical application. This book explores the current potential of SFM within the context of the rapid changes occurring in our natural and social environment, and examines the broad range issues – climate change, finance, governance, policy, certification, reduced-impact logging, non-timber products and services and stakeholder participation in land-use decisions – within the context of forest use, functions and conservation. With contributions from high-level representatives from the World Bank, FAO, IUCN and UNEP, as well as from leading academics – and including case studies from Europe and the tropics – this timely synthesis will provide a valuable reference for advanced students and researchers interested in forest and natural resource management, participatory and extension research, forest ecology and ecosystem services, functions and values, as well as for those involved in forest policy at local, regional and international levels. 'Every so often, a discipline should take stock where we are and where we are going. This book is doing that in a very timely manner. As we gain an appreciation of the magnitude and implications of future changes, the authors present views and ideas on a wide range of topics related to sustainable forest management. They provide a much needed overview of challenges in the face of climate and other aspects of global change. The book incorporates recent advances in a variety of fields and provides suggestions for solutions to important management problems that range from theoretical approaches to practical applications.' Klaus J. Puettmann, Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society, Oregon State University, Corvallis, USA.