Globally, according to FRA 2000, planted forests accounted for only 5% of forest area, but up to 35% of industrial roundwood supply. This is anticipated to rise to 40-44% by 2020. Planted forests reflect a higher social, environmental and economic importance than their area would suggest. Many countries have existing planted forest data that is not based upon forest inventory, is incomplete and often outdated. Thus it is difficult to measure and plan the quantity and quality of planted forest resources and the provision of goods and services that they supply.

The use of satellite imagery can substantially improve knowledge on changes in forest area as a result of deforestation, afforestation and natural forest expansion. This summary outlines some of the initial findings on forest land use and land-use change of a global remote sensing survey carried out to complement the country reporting process as part of the Global Forest Resources Assessments led by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

Les évaluations des bilans en éléments nutritifs aident à déterminer les effets des pratiques agricoles sur la fertilité des sols. Selon les situations, plusieurs approches et méthodes ont été utilisées. Ce bulletin présente un apercu de la situation actuelle des études des bilans en elements nutritifs. Il fait apparaître l'évolution des différentes approches et méthodes, les compare et souligne les améliorations effectuées ainsi que les questions qui restent à résoudre.

Because of changes in some underlying factors, land is increasingly becoming a source of conflicts in Africa. We estimate the determinants of land conflicts and their impacts on input application in Kenya by using a recent survey of 899 rural households. We find that widows are about 13 percent more likely to experience pending land conflicts when their parcels are registered under the names of their deceased husbands than when titles are registered under their names.

Este informe presenta el estudio de caso correspondiente a la experiencia de Costa Rica en la implementación de su Sistema Nacional de Áreas de Conservación (SINAC). En la primera sección se ofrece un bosquejo de la situación actual de las áreas silvestres protegidas costarricenses, dando énfasis a los aspectos de la institucionalidad, la legislación, las políticas, el sistema de categorías de manejo empleado y algunos aspectos relacionados con la planificación, el manejo y el financiamiento de las áreas protegidas, así como con las amenazas que estas enfrentan.

In developing countries across the globe the impact of livestock on deforestation levels has
been profound. This paper explores the role of the cattle industry in household decision
making for small landholders in the Brazilian Amazon. Important inquiries raised in the
literature are addressed, including the determinants of the co-evolution of deforestation and cattle herds, the possibility of production specialization, and the role of cattle in household livelihoods. Panel data suggest that households have changed focus from crop

In seeking to value environmental amenities and public goods, individuals often have trouble trading off the (vague) amenity or good against a monetary measure. Valuation in these circumstances can best be described as fuzzy in terms of the amenity valued, perceptions of property rights, and the numbers chosen to reflect values. In this paper, we apply fuzzy logic to contingent valuation, employing a fuzzy clustering approach for incorporating preference uncertainty obtained from a follow-up certainty confidence question.

La presente Ley tiene por objeto tipificar como delitos contra el medio ambiente y los recursos naturales, las acciones u omisiones que violen o alteren las disposiciones relativas a la conservación, protección, manejo, defensa y mejoramiento del ambiente y los recursos naturales, así como, el establecimiento de la responsabilidad civil por daños y perjuicios ocasionados por las personas naturales o jurídicas que resulten con responsabilidad comprobada.

(Press release): "... Ending the destruction of Burma’s northern frontier forests" , details shocking new evidence of the massive illicit plunder of Burma’s forests by Chinese logging companies. Much of the logging takes place in forests that form part of an area said to be “very possibly the most bio-diverse, rich, temperate area on earth.”

These Regulations are enacted in accordance with the Hot Spring Act.The Regulations provide for land-use zoning and land-use change procedures within hot spring areas. A change of land use within the boundaries of a hot spring area shall be subject to the procedures for change of zoning and land use as stipulated in the Regional Planning Law, the Urban Planning Law, the National Parks Law, and other applicable laws and regulations.

Infrastructure systems and services (ISS) are vulnerable to changes in climate. This paper reports on a study of the impact of gradual climate changes on ISS in Hamilton City, New Zealand. This study is unique in that it is the first of its kind to be applied to New Zealand ISS. This study also considers a broader range of ISS than most other climate change studies recently conducted. Using historical climate data and four climate change scenarios, we modelled the impact of climate change on water supply and quality, transport, energy demand, public health and air quality.

Nitrogen leaching from agriculture contributes to contamination of Lake Taupo. Multiple criteria decision making was used to compare fourteen pre-defined farming systems which reduced, or maintained nitrogen losses. Case study participants included three to four each of Maori Incorporation representatives, owner-operators, Environment Waikato employees, and researchers. The total group identified criteria that were important in choosing between the systems. Profit and nitrogen outputs were provided for the systems.