Forest conservation

The threats to the forests of tropical America have been the centre of international environmental concern for some time, yet the material in this atlas highlights the continuing extent of scientific uncertainty over the critical issues that will determine the future use and conservation of these forests. Preceded by Asia and the Pacific, 1991; Africa, 1992 (both now out of print), this atlas completes the series.

Synthesis of the various components of international law that have an impact on forests and provides a policy framework for conservation and sustainable use, against which any future global forest regime shoud be measured.

Explores various approaches including those which are forest-related such as community forestry and joint forest management as well as those concerned with protected areas. Covers key issues of theory and implementation and methodologies for implementation.

The result of the work of the Kenya Indigenous Forest Conservation programme, this report provides a summary of the existing information about Kenya's indigenous forests. Covers geographical background; assessment of the biodiversity, environmental services, and wood products functions and values; population pressures; utilisation; economic value; policy; legislation; management guidelines and criteria for management planning of such forests.

Limits to expansion of protected area systems underline the importance of seeking new ways to conserve biodiversity. There are many examples where traditional rural communities have shown their capacity to maintain high biological and cultural diversity.