Forestry planning is essential if the global trend toward deforestation is to be reversed. World forest trends, although often based on inaccurate or misleading information put out by national governments, indicate that the area of land covered with closed forests has decreased from about 25% in 1950 to about 20% in the 1970s. Major causes of deforestation include logging, spread of agriculture, and collection of firewood. Among the economic consequences of uncontrolled deforestation are forest-product scarcity, rising dependence on imported forest products, increasing construction costs, inflation, soaring firewood and fuel prices, health deterioration due to lack of heat and warm food, shortage of paper, and increased flooding in watershed areas. Challenges facing world forestry include putting a halt to deforestation and meeting elementary fuel and wood needs of developing nations. Countries which have succeeded in reforesting their depleted areas include China and South Korea. In addition, other developing nations are beginning to recognize the urgent need for reform of forestry policies and are developing strategies to improve timber management practices. An example of a state which is experimenting with community forestry is Gujarat, India. (DB)
