It may come as a paradox that while interest in tropical forests worldwide has been steadily growing in the last century, this has in no way halted the continued loss and degradation of one of earth's grandest terrestrial ecosystems. In fact, the extent and rate of degradation is accelerating.

The Forest Resources Assessment (FRA) Project in the Philippines was initiated in August 2002 for the assessment of Philippine forest and tree resources as part of the framework of the Forest Resources Assessment Programme of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to support national forest assessments (NFA).

The preliminary conclusions put forward in this Rural Sector Note may be used as basis for further discussions between the Government and the World Bank to ascertain the mutual interest in any programme or project follow up.

Globally, according to FRA 2000, planted forests accounted for only 5% of forest area, but up to 35% of industrial roundwood supply. This is anticipated to rise to 40-44% by 2020. Planted forests reflect a higher social, environmental and economic importance than their area would suggest.

Situación de los bosques del mundo –que llega ahora a su sexta edición– presenta un panorama mundial del sector forestal en el que se ofrece la última informa-ción disponible sobre actividades y acontecimientos.

The use of satellite imagery can substantially improve knowledge on changes in forest area as a result of deforestation, afforestation and natural forest expansion.

The European Forest Sector Outlook Study (EFSOS), Main Report, is the sixth major study in the European outlook study series. It aims to provide decision makers in the forestry sector with information and analysis about long-term trends in the sector and projections of future developments.

Dr. Juan Pulhin reports how the forest sector is addressing this challenge with some ambitious targets that include: uplands poverty halved in 15 years; forests under sustainable management, within 10 years; healthy forest-based industries, within 5 years in this report.

In developing countries across the globe the impact of livestock on deforestation levels has
been profound. This paper explores the role of the cattle industry in household decision
making for small landholders in the Brazilian Amazon. Important inquiries raised in the

In seeking to value environmental amenities and public goods, individuals often have trouble trading off the (vague) amenity or good against a monetary measure. Valuation in these circumstances can best be described as fuzzy in terms of the amenity valued, perceptions of property rights, and the numbers chosen to reflect values.

(Press release): "... Ending the destruction of Burma’s northern frontier forests" , details shocking new evidence of the massive illicit plunder of Burma’s forests by Chinese logging companies. Much of the logging takes place in forests that form part of an area said to be “very possibly the most bio-diverse, rich, temperate area on earth.”