The Forest Resources Assessment (FRA) Project in the Philippines was initiated in August 2002 for the assessment of Philippine forest and tree resources as part of the framework of the Forest Resources Assessment Programme of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to support national forest assessments (NFA).

The preliminary conclusions put forward in this Rural Sector Note may be used as basis for further discussions between the Government and the World Bank to ascertain the mutual interest in any programme or project follow up.

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 Many countries have existing planted forest data that is not based upon forest inventory, is incomplete and often outdated.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.

Situación de los bosques del mundo –que llega ahora a su sexta edición– presenta un panorama mundial del sector forestal en el que se ofrece la última informa-ción disponible sobre actividades y acontecimientos. Colaboraciones de organizaciones no gubernamen-tales (ONG), personas que actúan a título personal y funcionarios de la FAO ponen de relieve desafíos y oportunidades relacionados con algunas de las princi-pales cuestiones que están surgiendo actualmente.

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).

The European Forest Sector Outlook Study (EFSOS), Main Report, is the sixth major study in the European outlook study series. It aims to provide decision makers in the forestry sector with information and analysis about long-term trends in the sector and projections of future developments.

Dr. Juan Pulhin reports how the forest sector is addressing this challenge with some ambitious targets that include: uplands poverty halved in 15 years; forests under sustainable management, within 10 years; healthy forest-based industries, within 5 years in this report.

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.

(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.”

Paul Wolfowitz, President of the World Bank, congratulated the editorial team of National Geographic for the special issue on Africa. National Geographic has played a unique role in broadening the knowledge of the world. The World Bank partnered with National Geographic to produce a full-color wall map to raise awareness of the millennium development goals (MDGs) and to highlight each country's progress. We often hear about an Africa that is ravaged by poverty, disease and conflict. There is another face to Africa, one of hope, ambition, energy, intelligence and achievement.

Le présent Décret fixe les modalités d'application de la loi n° 2003-308 du 07 juillet 2003 portant transfert et répartition de compétences de l'Etat aux Collectivités Territoriales en matière de protection de l’environnement et de gestion des ressources naturelles, notamment la protection des forêts, la gestion et la protection des cours d’eau nationaux et internationaux; la gestion des déchets, la protection de la biodiversité, la lutte contre la pollution, la gestion des aires protégées; la gestion du littoral.