The area of tropical forest under sustainable management increased by 50% in five years, according to new data that has been met with continued concern for conservation.
The International Tropical Timber Organisation warned that more than 90% of the global tropical forest estate continued to be poorly managed or not at all and forces favouring forest destruction could easily overwhelm those seeking conservation.
“We are of course happy to see the progress that has occurred in the last five years, but it still represents an incremental advance, and some countries are still lagging behind,” said ITTO executive director Emmanuel Ze Meka.
“Demand for certified wood is likely to affect only a small part of the tropical forest estate and countries are embracing forest programmes related to climate change because they expect them to generate a significant amount of money, which may not materialise to the extent hoped for.”
Officials believe that conflict, coupled with higher food and fuel prices, would lead to continued deforestation. Status of Tropical Management 2011 reports that between 2005-2010 the area of natural forest under management increased to an area the size of Thailand, from 36 million ha to 53 million ha. The area of timber production forests under management, a first step toward sustainability, increased by one-third to 131 million ha.
Combined annual exports of the 33 ITTO member countries are valued at US$20bn.
