rying to strike a balance between including a sufficient number of key topics and doing them justice within the constraints dictated by length meant that coverage of some topics had to be general rather than exhaustive. In this regard, we would like to think that they provide grist for the mill for future editions of the State of the Worlds Forests The FAO Forestry Department is pleased to release the State of the Worlds Forests 2003 and hopes that readers will find it informative and thought provoking. Comments are most welcome, as are suggestions for the next edition. M. Hosny El-Lakan Assistant director -general FAO Forestry Departmentiv doing and topics key of number sufficient a including between balance a strike to Trying topics some of coverage that meant length by dictated constraints the within justice them they that think to like would we, regard this In. exhaustive than rather general be to had .Forests s’World the of State the of editions future for mill the for grist provide 2003 Forests s’World the of State the release to pleased is Department Forestry FAO The are Comments. provoking thought and informative it find will readers that hopes and .edition next the for suggestions are as, welcome most Lakany-El Hosny. M General-Director Assistant Department Forestry FAO