FAO completes global synthesis of forest resources assessment 1990
Technical papers on sustainable forest management
Updated FAO directories of forestry training institutions and research organizations
FAO completes global synthesis of forest resources assessment 1990
Forest resources assessment 1990: global synthesis.1995. FAO Forestry Paper No. 124. Rome.
ISBN 92-5-103666-7.
The global Forest resources assessment 1990, the latest FAO periodic evaluation of forest resources, provides comprehensive information on the current state of global forests and recent changes including area, growing stock, management and conservation. Some information related to the environmental functions of forests is also given.
The global assessment included 179 countries with a total land area of 12 900 million ha. Forests constituted slightly over 3 400 million ha or 27 percent of the land area; total growing stock was 384 000 million m³ and growing stock per hectare was 114 m³. Forests of the developed regions represent about 41 percent of the global forest area and 43 percent of the growing stock. The area of forest in the developed regions remained more or less unchanged over the decade 1980 to 1990.
Forests of the developing regions represent about 59 percent of the total forest area of the world and 57 percent of the growing stock. For several decades, deforestation and forest degradation have been occurring on an accelerated scale. The loss of forest area during the 1980-1990 period amounts to 163 million ha, of which 154 million ha are in the tropics.
If the population of the world grows from 1990 to 2020 at the rate projected by the United Nations, deforestation and forest degradation trends are expected to continue and even to worsen, unless policies are set and implemented to conserve the world's forest resources. The problems of local wood shortage, land degradation, global warming and loss of biological diversity are expected to be exacerbated.
At the local level there is an emergence of forest management practices with the participation of local communities in the developing countries, and the valuation of environmental functions of the forest in the developed countries.
The 1990 assessment will satisfy many of the urgent information needs of policy-makers, the scientific community and the general public. It has indicated, however, a need to fill certain gaps in knowledge and a lack of adequate institutional capacity in both developing and developed countries. A concerted effort is required at national and international levels to build the capacity needed, as recommended in Chapter 11 of UNCED Agenda 21, in order to understand and solve the pressing problems of the world's forests.
Technical papers on sustainable forest management
Readings in sustainable forest management. 1994. FAO Forestry Paper No. 122.
Rome.ISBN 92-5-103401-X.
This collection of technical papers on sustainable forest management had its origins in the 10th World Forestry Congress which issued the Paris Declaration in 1991. The declaration called on the world's decision-makers to raise awareness and inform the public so that forest issues could be better understood and appreciated.
The papers have already been synthesized in a companion volume, The challenge of sustainable forest management: what future for the world's forests?. This was aimed at a non-technical audience, including decision-makers and concerned members of the general public, and it contributed to putting the Paris Declaration directly into effect.
The papers presented are divided into two parts: developing systems for the implementation of sustainable forest management; and creating a supportive environment for sustainable forest management.
The papers in this book were mainly prepared and submitted during the first half of 1992. The delay in their publication arose from the decision to concentrate on the preparation and issuance of the "popular" volume, which was expected to make the most impact in the immediate post-UNCED period. It is hoped that their publication will make available to professional foresters and others valuable technical information that will be relevant to their work.
Several of the papers have been edited to reduce their length and explanatory footnotes have been added in some instances to relate the author's statements to FAO's position.
Updated FAO directories of forestry training institutions and research organizations
Directory of Forestry Education and Training Institutions 1994. 1995. Rome, FAO.
Directory of Forestry Research Organizations 1995. 1995. Rome, FAO.
The Directory of Forestry Education and Training Institutions 1994
FAO has issued the latest editions of two important directories of forestry institutions. The Directory of Forestry Education and Training Institutions 1994 covers some 650 forestry education and training institutions in 92 countries. It provides full contact information on institutions plus additional data on main teaching areas, number of lecturers, their academic qualifications and turnover; degrees awarded; and number of students graduated.
The Directory of Forestry Research Organizations 1995
The Directory of Forestry Research Organizations 1995 covers some 750 forestry research organizations in 112 countries. It provides full contact information on organizations, plus additional data on main areas of research, number of researchers and their academic qualifications.
These two directories, unique in their comprehensive and global coverage, will be invaluable tools and reference works not only for international forest researchers and educators but also for all those interested and involved in forestry and related activities. The directories are updated every two years.
Both directories are available as printed versions or on electronic format. Copies may be obtained by contacting:
F. Schlegel,
Forestry Officer (Education),
Forest Conservation, Research and Education Service,
FAO, Viale delle Terme di Caracalla,
00100 Rome, Italy
tel. 0039-6-52254776
fax 0039-6-52255137
E-mail [email protected].
They are also accessible on Internet, through the FAO gopher: //gopher.fao.org/
