The World's Forests: Need For a Policy Appraisal

Abstract

Listen

Translate article

This article discusses the need for a fresh policy approach toward forests as a new organization is established - the World Commission on Forest and sustainable Development. Forests once covered more than 40% of Earth`s land surface, but this has been reduced by one third. The consequences of forest loss are not recognized in their full scope by political leaders and policy makers. Forest protect soils, play a major role in hydrological cycles, exert a gyroscopic effect in atmospheric processes and other global climate factors, second only to the ocean. They are critical to the energy budget and albedo of Earth, and they harbor a majority of species on land. A policy apprasial should address both the scope of change necessary for forests to undergo sustainable development, and the scope required for forests to contribute fully to sustainable development in the countries concerned and in the world at large. 17 refs.