137 EFINITIONS USED IN THE STATE OF THE WORLD'S FORESTS FOREST AND RELATED LAND COVER Natural expansion of forest Expansion of forest through natural succession on land that until These terms have been adopted for use in the Global Forest then was under another land use( e.g. forest succession on land Resources Assessment 2000. Further information on definitions previously used for agriculture). It implies a transformation from has beenpublished in FAO documents(FAO, 1998d; FAO, 20000), non-forest to forest whichareavailableontheFaoWebsiteatwww.faoorg/for ESTRY/FO/FRA/index jsp Reforestation Establishment of forest plantations on temporarily unstocked ands that are considered forest Forest includes natural forests and forest plantations. The term is used to refer to land with a tree canopy cover of more than 10 Natural regeneration on forest lands percent and area of more than 0. 5 ha. Forests are determined both Natural succession of forest on temporarily unstocked lands that by the presence of trees and the absence of other predominant are considered forest 5 m Young stands that have not yet reached, but are expected to Deforestation reach, a crown density of 10 percent and tree height of 5 m are The conversion of forest to another land use or the long-term included under forest, as are temporarily unstocked areas. The reduction of the tree canopy cover below the minimum 10 per term includes forests used for purposes of production, protection, cent threshold (see the definition of forest and the following ex multiple use or conservation (i.e. forest in national parks, nature planatory note) reserves and other protected areas), as well as forest stands Explanatory note: Deforestation implies the long-term or per- agricultural lands(e.g windbreaks and shelterbelts of trees with a manent loss of forest cover and implies transformation into an- width of more than 20 m) and rubberwood plantations and cork other land use. Such a loss can only be caused and maintained oak stands. The term specifically excludes stands of trees estab- by a continued human-induced or natural perturbation. Defor- lished primarily for agricultural production, for example fruit tree estation includes areas of forest converted to agriculture, pas- plantations. It also excludes trees planted in agroforestry systems. ture, water reservoirs and urban areas. The term specifically excludes areas where the trees have been removed as a result of Natural forest harvesting or logging and where the forest is expected to regen- Aforest composed of indigenous trees, andnot classified as forest erate naturally or with the aid of silvicultural measures. Unless plantation logging is followed by the clearing of the remaining logged-over forest for the introduction of alternative land uses or the clear- Forest plantation ings are maintained through continued disturbance, forests com- A forest established by planting and/or seeding in the process of monly regenerate, although often to a different, secondary con- afforestation or reforestation. It consists of introduced species or, dition. In areas of shifting agriculture, forest, forest fallow and in some cases, indigenous speci agricultural lands appear in a dynamic pattern where deforest- tion and the return of forest occur frequently in small patches. To other wooded land simplify reporting of such areas, the net change over a larger area Land that has either a crown cover (or equivalent stocking level) is typically used. Deforestation also includes areas where, for 5 to10 percent of treesable to reach a height of 5 mat maturity: example, the impact of disturbance, overutilization or changing or a crown cover (or equivalent stocking level)of more than 10 environmental conditions affects the forest to an extent that it percent of trees not able to reach a height of 5 m at maturity; or cannot sustain a tree cover above the 10 percent threshold a shrub or bush cover of more than 10 percent. Forest degradation Changes within the forest that negatively affect the structure or Establishment of forest plantations on land that until then was not function of the stand or site, and thereby lower its capacity to classified asforest It impliesatransformationfromnon-forest toforest. supply products and/or services137 Natural expansion of forest Expansion of forest through natural succession on land that until then was under another land use (e.g. forest succession on land previously used for agriculture). It implies a transformation from non-forest to forest. Reforestation Establishment of forest plantations on temporarily unstocked lands that are considered forest. Natural regeneration on forest lands Natural succession of forest on temporarily unstocked lands that are considered forest. Deforestation The conversion of forest to another land use or the long-term reduction of the tree canopy cover below the minimum 10 per￾cent threshold (see the definition of forest and the following ex￾planatory note). Explanatory note: Deforestation implies the long-term or per￾manent loss of forest cover and implies transformation into an￾other land use. Such a loss can only be caused and maintained by a continued human-induced or natural perturbation. Defor￾estation includes areas of forest converted to agriculture, pas￾ture, water reservoirs and urban areas. The term specifically excludes areas where the trees have been removed as a result of harvesting or logging and where the forest is expected to regen￾erate naturally or with the aid of silvicultural measures. Unless logging is followed by the clearing of the remaining logged-over forest for the introduction of alternative land uses, or the clear￾ings are maintained through continued disturbance, forests com￾monly regenerate, although often to a different, secondary con￾dition. In areas of shifting agriculture, forest, forest fallow and agricultural lands appear in a dynamic pattern where deforesta￾tion and the return of forest occur frequently in small patches. To simplify reporting of such areas, the net change over a larger area is typically used. Deforestation also includes areas where, for example, the impact of disturbance, overutilization or changing environmental conditions affects the forest to an extent that it cannot sustain a tree cover above the 10 percent threshold. Forest degradation Changes within the forest that negatively affect the structure or function of the stand or site, and thereby lower its capacity to supply products and/or services. FOREST AND RELATED LAND COVER These terms have been adopted for use in the Global Forest Resources Assessment 2000. Further information on definitions has been published in FAO documents (FAO, 1998d; FAO, 2000f), which are available on the FAO Web site at: www.fao.org/FOR￾ESTRY/FO/FRA/index.jsp. Forest Forest includes natural forests and forest plantations. The term is used to refer to land with a tree canopy cover of more than 10 percent and area of more than 0.5 ha. Forests are determined both by the presence of trees and the absence of other predominant land uses. The trees should be able to reach a minimum height of 5 m. Young stands that have not yet reached, but are expected to reach, a crown density of 10 percent and tree height of 5 m are included under forest, as are temporarily unstocked areas. The term includes forests used for purposes of production, protection, multiple use or conservation (i.e. forest in national parks, nature reserves and other protected areas), as well as forest stands on agricultural lands (e.g. windbreaks and shelterbelts of trees with a width of more than 20 m) and rubberwood plantations and cork oak stands. The term specifically excludes stands of trees estab￾lished primarily for agricultural production, for example fruit tree plantations. It also excludes trees planted in agroforestry systems. Natural forest A forest composed of indigenous trees, and not classified as forest plantation. Forest plantation A forest established by planting and/or seeding in the process of afforestation or reforestation. It consists of introduced species or, in some cases, indigenous species. Other wooded land Land that has either a crown cover (or equivalent stocking level) of 5 to10 percent of trees able to reach a height of 5 m at maturity; or a crown cover (or equivalent stocking level) of more than 10 percent of trees not able to reach a height of 5 m at maturity; or a shrub or bush cover of more than 10 percent. Afforestation Establishment of forest plantations on land that until then was not classified as forest. It implies a transformation from non-forest to forest. DEFINITIONS USED IN THE STATE OF THE WORLD’S FORESTS 137