cover

FAO Yearbook of Forest Products 2007

The FAO Yearbook of Forest Products is a compilation of statistical data on basic forest products for all countries and territories of the world. It contains series of annual data on the volume of production and the volume and value of trade in forest products. It includes tables showing direction of trade and average unit values of trade for certain products. Statistical information in the yearbook is based primarily on data provided to the FAO Forestry Department by the countries through questionnaires or official publications. In the absence of official data, FAO makes an estimate based on the best information available.
HTML - PDF

Global review of forest pests and diseases

FAO Forestry Paper 156

Forests are complex ecosystems that provide valuable products and services, have important aesthetic, social and cultural value and contribute to the livelihoods of rural communities. It is therefore critical to protect these resources from disturbances by insects and other pests and diseases. Pests and diseases can adversely affect tree growth, vigour and survival, the yield and quality of wood and non-wood products, wildlife habitat, recreation and the aesthetic appeal and cultural value of forests. They may also impede forest plantation programmes and make it necessary to abandon certain tree species or to clear cut large areas dominated by infested trees. Effective pest management requires reliable information about the biology, ecology and distribution of the pests, their impacts on forest ecosystems and possible methods of control; it also often requires international cooperation. This publication represents a rare effort to address forest pests and diseases comprehensively at the global level. Part I summarizes the results of a thematic study reviewing forest pests in 25 countries. Part II presents profiles of some globally important forest pest species, and Part III discusses select forest trees species and their associated pests.The information provided in this publication will assist forest health specialists, forest managers and policy-makers worldwide to make informed decisions.

Forests and water

FAO Forestry Paper 155

The availability and quality of clean water in many regions of the world is more and more threatened by overuse, misuse and pollution. In this context, the relationship between forests and water must be accorded high priority. Forested catchments supply a high proportion of the water for domestic, agricultural, industrial and ecological needs in both upstream and downstream areas. A key challenge faced by land, forest and water managers is to maximize the benefits that forests provide without detriment to water resources and ecosystem function. There is an urgent need for a better understanding of the interface of forests and trees with water and for embedding this knowledge in policies. This study, initiated in the context of the Global Forest Resources Assessment 2005, highlights the need for holistic management of complex watershed ecosystems taking into account interactions among water, forest and other land uses as well as socio-economic factors. It explains the role of forests in the hydrological cycle, with a particular focus on critical, “red flag” forest situations such as mountainous or steep terrain, river and coastal areas and swamp ecosystems, as well as the special case of mountainous small islands. It addresses the protection of municipal water supplies and emerging systems of payment for watershed services. This state-of-knowledge publication will be of interest to a broad range of technical experts, scientists and decision-makers.

Forests and energy
Key issues

FAO Forestry Paper 154

Soaring energy consumption and fossil fuel prices, increasing greenhouse gas emissions and concerns over energy import dependence are driving the search for alternatives to fossil fuels for energy production. Biofuels currently constitute the largest source of renewable energy produced on earth. As biomass, wood offers some of the highest levels of energy and carbon efficiency. This publication explores the relationship between forests and energy. It considers the present and future contribution of wood in the production of bioenergy as well as the effects of liquid biofuel crop development on forests. The paper begins with an overview of global energy supply and demand with projections to the year 2030. The contribution of wood energy is then considered in the context of a general discussion of a variety of bioenergy crops and their use in the production of first- and second-generation biofuels. The analysis evaluates the payoffs in developing different sources of bioenergy and the risks of land conversion. It also discusses market forces and ongoing technological innovations for wood energy production. Policy options and recommendations for bioenergy development are given, stressing the importance of integrated planning and monitoring of land use, and the transfer of advanced wood energy technologies to developing countries. This publication will be useful to both specialized and general audiences interested in learning more about the role of forests in energy production.
HTML - PDF

The world’s mangroves 1980–2005

FAO Forestry Paper 153

Mangroves, commonly found along sheltered coastlines in the tropics and subtropics, fulfil important socio-economic and environmental functions: providing wood and non-wood forest products, protecting shores against wind, waves and water currents; conserving biological diversity; protecting coral reefs, sea-grass beds and shipping lanes against siltation; and providing habitat, spawning grounds and nutrients for a variety of fish and shellfish, including many commercial species. High population pressure in coastal areas has, however, led to the conversion of many mangrove areas to other uses. The world’s mangroves 1980–2005, prepared in the framework of the Global Forest Resources Assessment 2005, provides comprehensive information on the current and past extent of mangroves in all countries and territories in which they exist. This information, as well as the gaps in information that come to light in the report, will assist mangrove managers and policy- and decision-makers worldwide in ensuring the conservation, management and sustainable use of the world’s remaining mangrove ecosystems.
HTML - PDF

People, forests and trees in West and Central Asia
Outlook for 2020

FAO Forestry Paper 152

In West and Central Asia, governments, the private sector, communities, farmers and civil society organizations are making substantial efforts to improve the management of forest and tree resources. However, most countries face enormous challenges in this regard. This publication, the main report of the Forestry Outlook Study for West and Central Asia (FOWECA), provides a long-term perspective of changes in the forest sector. Implemented in partnership with the countries, the study covered 23 countries in West Asia, Central Asia and the southern Caucasus. This report outlines the probable developments, including broader regional and global issues which need to be taken into account in developing national policies and programmes. It then discusses what needs to be done to enhance the contribution of forests and trees to society. It focuses particularly on probable development scenarios, their implications for society in terms of the availability of goods and services, and the priorities and strategies that may be pursued to improve the situation. This analysis will be of particular interest to planners, investors and decision-makers at the regional, subregional and national levels.
HTML - PDF

Fire management – global assessment 2006

FAO Forestry Paper 151

Fire management is an essential part of sustainable forest management. This publication complements the Global Forest Resources Assessment 2005 (FRA 2005) as an in-depth thematic study on the incidence, impact and management of forest fires in different regions of the world. It was developed from 12 regional papers prepared within the framework of the Global Wildland Fire Network of the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction. It provides the best estimate of the global fire situation to date and gives a good indication of the scale of the impact of vegetation fires on society, on the economy and on the environment. This global assessment will be of interest not only to fire specialists, but also to policy-makers, forest managers and those involved in collecting reliable and current information on fire in different types of vegetation. It is an important contribution to FAO’s efforts to enhance international cooperation in fire management.
HTML - PDF

The new generation of watershed management programmes and projects
A resource book for practitioners and local decision-makers

FAO Forestry Paper 150

On the occasion of the International Year of Mountains – 2002, FAO and its partners undertook a large-scale assessment and global review of the current status and future trends of integrated and participatory watershed management. The overall objectives were to promote the exchange and dissemination of experiences in implementing watershed management projects in the decade from 1990 to 2000 and to identify the vision for a new generation of watershed management programmes and projects. This resource book represents a summary and critical analysis of the rich discussions and vast material that emerged during the review, as well as the review’s findings and recommendations. It presents the state of the art in watershed management, promotes further reflection and creative thinking and proposes new ideas and approaches for future watershed management programmes and projects. This publication has been written primarily for field-level watershed management practitioners and local decision-makers involved in watershed management at the district or municipality level. It will also be a useful source of information for other readers such as senior officers and consultants specialized in other areas, evaluators, policy-makers and students of watershed management.
HTML - PDF

Better forestry, less poverty
A practitioner’s guide

FAO Forestry Paper 149

This guide suggests ways to design and implement forest-based interventions that have the greatest potential to reduce poverty. Areas for action include timber production in both natural and planted forests, non-wood forest products, woodfuel, bushmeat, agroforestry and payment for environmental services. For each topic, the guide outlines key issues, summarizes successful case studies and identifies sources of additional information. The document highlights the importance of using participatory approaches and of tailoring activities to local circumstances. Emphasis is on making changes that will improve the livelihoods of people living in or near forests, and on helping users to gain a better understanding of the forms of rural poverty and of how decisions made at the local level affect segments of poor rural communities in different ways – women, children and the elderly being the most vulnerable. The guide will be of interest to forestry and rural development practitioners and the communities they serve, including district forestry officials, extension workers, local planners and administrators, and owners of small-scale enterprises and their employees.
HTML - PDF

Tendencias y perspectivas del sector forestal en América Latina y el Caribe

FAO Forestry Paper 148

Desde hace algunos años la FAO, en colaboración con países miembros, el sector privado y organizaciones internacionales, gubernamentales y no gubernamentales, realiza una serie de procesos de análisis y elaboración de perspectivas del sector forestal en diferentes países y regiones del mundo. La presente publicación sobre las tendencias y las perspectivas del sector forestal para América Latina y el Caribe es el resultado de un proceso que ha involucrado directamente 20 países y tres subregiones. El estudio realiza una estimación sobre la probable situación del sector forestal regional al 2020. Se ha elaborado una descripción y un análisis de las principales tendencias del sector forestal en los últimos años y se han determinado las posibles direcciones de su futuro desarrollo y los desafíos del mismo. Se han considerado las principales fuerzas impulsoras, como las políticas, las instituciones, los cambios demográficos, tecnológicos, económicos, medioambientales y los mercados nacionales e internacionales. Se presenta un análisis de las implicaciones para el sector forestal en los próximos años, así como las posibles oportunidades para el desarrollo del mismo.
HTML - PDF

Global Forest Resources Assessment 2005
Progress towards sustainable forest management

FAO Forestry Paper 147

Is the world progressing towards sustainable forest management? This question provided the framework for the Global Forest Resources Assessment 2005 (FRA 2005), the most comprehensive in FAO's series of such assessments to date, covering 229 countries and areas for the period 1990 to 2005. This publication, the main report of FRA 2005, contains country-by-country data, contributed by national correspondents and reviewed and collated by FAO, for more key forest variables than in any previous assessment. Based on these results, the report analyses progress being made towards sustainable forest management. Six core chapters evaluate the status, trends and information availability for six thematic elements of sustainable forest management: extent of forest resources; biological diversity; forest health and vitality; productive functions of forest resources; protective functions of forest resources; and socio-economic functions. Chapter 8 then synthesizes this information at the subregional, regional and global levels, with a series of "traffic lights" indicating where there is cause for optimism and where there is cause for alarm. Recommendations for future assessments are also included. This report is an essential reference for anyone interested in the status of the world¿s forests, for those involved in international negotiations related to forestry and for all concerned with the contribution of forests to sustainable development.
HTML - PDF

Microfinance and forest-based small-scale enterprises

FAO Forestry Paper 146

Communities around the world rely on forests for their livelihoods, not only for domestic uses but also for income, frequently obtained through small-scale, often family-run enterprises. The sustainable development of such enterprises is increasingly recognized as a key to poverty reduction but is often hindered by lack of financial inputs or poor access to microfinance services. This publication reviews the specific microfinance needs of small-scale enterprises given the often seasonal and unpredictable nature of forest-based activities. It analyses the constraints they face when trying to obtain microfinance services and identifies ways to overcome these challenges. It examines the role that different types of microfinance institutions can play for small-scale enterprises and forest communities. It discusses, in addition to microcredit, a comprehensive range of services including savings, group lending, leasing, insurance and cash transfers. The strengths and weaknesses of different approaches are illustrated through four case studies in Nepal, Guatemala, the Sudan and Peru. This book will be a useful reference for those involved in designing policies and projects for the development of forest communities, as well as for those providing financial services to small enterprises in rural areas.
HTML - PDF

Trends in wood products 1961-2003

This user-friendly booklet provides a graphic overview of key global and regional trends in the domain of wood and wood products. It summarizes the detailed statistics compiled by FAO, in partnership with national and international institutions, and published in the annual FAO Yearbook of Forest Products.
PDF

Best practices for improving law compliance in the forest sector

FAO Forestry Paper 145

Forest law compliance is attracting increased attention in the international forest policy arena as significant volumes of timber are illegally felled, processed and traded every year. Illegal logging and associated trade have far-reaching environmental, social and economic consequences. Various stakeholders at the local, national and international levels are making efforts to address the issue. Several governments are in the process of rationalizing their legal and policy framework, building institutional capacity to foster better law compliance and gathering additional data on the extent and nature of illegal operations. Private initiatives such as forest certification, voluntary corporate codes of conduct, independent monitoring of forest operations and log tracking are also contributing to fighting forest crime. This publication provides an overview of these experiences to foster better forest law compliance. It analyses available knowledge in a set of best practices drawn from 11 country case studies, which decision-makers may wish to apply to reduce illegal operations in the forest sector.
HTML - PDF

State of the World's Forests
Collection 1995-2005

FAO has published State of the World's Forests - the Organization's flagship publication presenting the latest information on major policy and institutional developments and key issues concerning the forest sector - every other year since 1995. In coordination with the publication of State of the World's Forests 2005, FAO has released a CD-ROM containing the entire collection of the report since its first edition. It contains all six issues of the publication in Arabic, Chinese, English, French and Spanish. This unique resource provides a ready overview of the situation and development of forest resources over the past decade.
Available from: FO-publications@fao.org

People and forests
FAO participatory forestry publications

This CD-ROM contains 15 years of publications produced by FAO and its partners, mainly under the Forests, Trees and People Programme (FTPP). FTPP, which started in 1987 and ended in 2002, was an international community forestry programme designed to increase social and economic equity and improve well-being, especially of the poor, through collaborative and sustainable management of trees, forests and other natural resources. The CD-ROM includes more than 70 publications on participatory forestry and related subjects, organized according to series, theme and alphabetical order. It is hoped that these publications will contribute to strengthening human and institutional capacities that are necessary for the support of locally based sustainable management of forest resources.
Available from: Dominique.Reeb@fao.org

An illustrated guide to the state of health of trees
Recognition and interpretation of symptoms and damage

Insect pests and diseases routinely affect the health of trees, and major outbreaks can have catastrophic environmental and economic impacts. The effective management of all tree health problems depends on their early detection. This guide will help readers recognize symptoms of ill health in trees and understand their general significance. The guide provides 140 photographs of symptoms from more than 50 tree species to be used as a basis for demonstrating the effects of pest (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) influences on trees. It is not an identification guide to insect pests and diseases of trees, but aims to help people make visual assessments of tree health problems and to provide a preliminary diagnosis which in turn will assist in better planning and more effective management of forests and trees. The guide will be useful to anyone interested in tree health or responsible for managing trees.
HTML - PDF
last updated: Thursday, September 3, 2009