FAO is dedicated to assisting countries to achieve the goals of the World Food Summit and those contained in the Millennium Declaration. Forestry can make a significant contribution in this regard because many of the poorest people in the world live in and around forested areas, and therefore depend on these resources for subsistence and livelihoods. Recognizing the value and importance of forests for society, establishing sound policies and laws in order to ensure that this value is protected, maintained and enhanced is the main task of policy-and law-makers. Unlike in the past, when management of forests was often delegated to technical experts, governments and other stakeholders from different backgrounds now take part in forest management with renewed attention.