This issue of Unasylva focuses on the fortieth anniversary of FAO - -and, in particular, on 40 years of work by FAO's Forestry Department. Here, and in the two issues that follow, we will, in addition to publishing articles on important forestry topics, be reprinting selected excerpts from early issues of Unasylva. This issue, for example, includes the major portion of an article from the very first Unasylva: "The disappearance of the tropical forests of Africa,'' by Andr Marie A.

Le rle de la fort dans la recherche de la scurit alimentaire fait l'objet de l'article principal. Ce rle est vident et multiple: maintien, amlioration ou restauration de la capacit productive des systmes agricoles, apport direct de produits alimentaires vgtaux et animaux, production d'nergie domestique indispensable la cuisine. L'article suivant traite du danger que prsentent les pluies acides. Enfin, il faut considrer que les meilleurs gardiens des ressources forestires devraient tre les populations qui en sont les premires bnficiaires.

The lead article on forestry and food security describes the importance of forestry In the maintenance, improvement or rehabilitation of the productive capacity of agriculture. Following is an article dealing with the threat of acid rain. Finally, it must be kept in mind that the best guardians of forest resources are the people who are the first to benefit from them. Therefore, the efforts of non-governmental organizations should be directed toward helping to increase people's participation in all aspects of forest management. The third article deals with this topic.

Le prsent numro d'Unasylva est principalement consacr l'Afrique. Une bonne partie du continent a t ravage par plusieurs annes successives de scheresse, et des millions d'tres humains souffrent de faim et de malnutrition. Dans de nombreux pays d'Afrique, les cultures empitent rapidement sur les forts et les zones arides cause de la famine.