Achieving Sustainable Management of Tropical Forests

While global rates of deforestation have started to decrease, deforestation rates remain alarmingly high in many tropical countries. The challenges faced by tropical forests highlight the importance of sustainable forest management (SFM). This collection summarises and reviews the wealth of research on tropical forests and how it can make sustainable management of tropical forests a reality.

Part 1 addresses the broader political, economic and environmental context in which tropical forests are situated. Chapters cover topics such as tropical forest ecology and climate change, global trade flows and land use, as well as the UN's Sustainable Development Goals and national governance. Part 2 reviews the range of ecosystem services provided by tropical forests, from timber and non-timber products to carbon sequestration and biodiversity, as well as the way these services can be valued. Parts 3 and 4 build on this foundation by reviewing research on the management structures and techniques required for sustainable forest management (SFM). Chapters discuss operating standards in SFM, tenure and management rights and community-based forest management, as well as monitoring techniques and the role of agroforestry in SFM. Part 6 includes case studies of SFM of different tropical forest types.