PART I THE SITUATION AND RECENT DI NTS IN THE FOREST SECTOR Recent developments his chapter discusses some of the main issues effectiveness of forest management(see and emerging trends in the forest sector, Management, conservation and sustainable focusing largely on the last two to three years. development of forest resources, p. 6). A pilot As it is impossible to cover all nev assessment of the health of the worlds developments, notable events and significant ecosystems, including forests, was undertaken trends worldwide, selected issues receiving by the United Nations Environment Programme international attention during this period have (UNEP), the World Bank and the World been highlighted. Resources Institute (WRD)(Rosen, 2000) Concern about deforestation and forest THE STATUS OF FOREST RESOURCES degradation, which are evident in many places Forest cover throughout the world, has given rise to a The global forest resources assessment 2000 number of analyses of the causes and effects FRa 2000)provides the most recent information (e.g. UN, 1996; Kaimowitz and Angelsen, 1998; on the state and change of forest cover, or area, and Contreras-Hermosilla, 2000). The causes of globally. The results of the assessment are forest degradation and loss are complex and discussed in more detail in part II vary widely from place to place. a distinction is Forests cover about 3 870 million ha, or made between direct and underlying causes. 30 percent of the earths land area. Tropical and Major direct causes of forest degradation subtropical forests comprise 56 percent of the include insect pests and diseases; fire; worlds forests, while temperate and boreal overharvesting of industrial wood, fuelwood forests account for 44 percent. Forest plantations and other forest products; mismanagement of make up only about 5 percent of all forests; the production forests, including poor harvesting rest is natural forest. FRA 2000 revealed that the practices; overgrazing: air pollution; and estimated net annual change in forest area extreme climatic events such as storms Habitat worldwide in the 1990s was- 9. 4 million ha degradation caused by these factors and the representing the difference between the overharvesting of wildlife are major factors estimated annual rate of deforestation of 14.6 contributing to local depletion of forest-based million ha and the estimated annual rate of wildlife populations. Underlying causes include forest area increase of 5.2 million ha poverty, population growth, markets and trade in forest products, and macroeconomic policies Forest condition This section will be limited to discussion of Although global forest area and deforestation two noteworthy causes of forest damage during rates are often used to frame discussions about the 1999-2000 period: i) severe wildfires in forests, perhaps of greater significance are the many countries, with recently updated condition of forests and their ability to provide information on the wildfires of 1997 and 1998 the range of goods and services demanded of the worst years reported for wildfires and forest them. The condition of forests is even more fires in recent times: and ii) the violent storms difficult to assess than area, however. In Fra that hit Europe in December 1999. As disastrous 2000(see Part ID), an effort was made to report as these events proved, however, they have had on forest damage from various causes and to some positive outcomes and have produced assess wood supply and production. An indication of related trends is provided The spate of wildfires that occurred globally indirectly by recent efforts to assess the over the last four years catalysed national policyRecent developments This chapter discusses some of the main issues and emerging trends in the forest sector, focusing largely on the last two to three years. As it is impossible to cover all new developments, notable events and significant trends worldwide, selected issues receiving international attention during this period have been highlighted. THE STATUS OF FOREST RESOURCES Forest cover The Global Forest Resources Assessment 2000 (FRA 2000) provides the most recent information on the state and change of forest cover, or area, globally. The results of the assessment are discussed in more detail in Part II. Forests cover about 3 870 million ha, or 30 percent of the earth’s land area. Tropical and subtropical forests comprise 56 percent of the world’s forests, while temperate and boreal forests account for 44 percent. Forest plantations make up only about 5 percent of all forests; the rest is natural forest. FRA 2000 revealed that the estimated net annual change in forest area worldwide in the 1990s was -9.4 million ha, representing the difference between the estimated annual rate of deforestation of 14.6 million ha and the estimated annual rate of forest area increase of 5.2 million ha. Forest condition Although global forest area and deforestation rates are often used to frame discussions about forests, perhaps of greater significance are the condition of forests and their ability to provide the range of goods and services demanded of them. The condition of forests is even more difficult to assess than area, however. In FRA 2000 (see Part II), an effort was made to report on forest damage from various causes and to assess wood supply and production. An indication of related trends is provided indirectly by recent efforts to assess the effectiveness of forest management (see Management, conservation and sustainable development of forest resources, p. 6). A pilot assessment of the health of the world’s ecosystems, including forests, was undertaken by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Bank and the World Resources Institute (WRI) (Rosen, 2000). Concern about deforestation and forest degradation, which are evident in many places throughout the world, has given rise to a number of analyses of the causes and effects (e.g. UN, 1996; Kaimowitz and Angelsen, 1998; and Contreras-Hermosilla, 2000). The causes of forest degradation and loss are complex and vary widely from place to place. A distinction is made between direct and underlying causes. Major direct causes of forest degradation include insect pests and diseases; fire; overharvesting of industrial wood, fuelwood and other forest products; mismanagement of production forests, including poor harvesting practices; overgrazing; air pollution; and extreme climatic events such as storms. Habitat degradation caused by these factors and the overharvesting of wildlife are major factors contributing to local depletion of forest-based wildlife populations. Underlying causes include poverty, population growth, markets and trade in forest products, and macroeconomic policies. This section will be limited to discussion of two noteworthy causes of forest damage during the 1999-2000 period: i) severe wildfires in many countries, with recently updated information on the wildfires of 1997 and 1998 – the worst years reported for wildfires and forest fires in recent times; and ii) the violent storms that hit Europe in December 1999. As disastrous as these events proved, however, they have had some positive outcomes and have produced useful lessons. The spate of wildfires that occurred globally over the last four years catalysed national policy PART I THE SITUATION AND RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE FOREST SECTOR 1