Current Trends

Due to their successful efforts, most of the LFCCs record deforestation rates of zero. With and average loss of natural forest of less than I per cent. FAO does not record forest clearance in LFCCs whose area of forest cover falls below the minimum threshold. The pressures on remaining forests, however. May be quite intense, especially in countries with low forest cover per capita. Some LFCCs have acutely been increasing their forest cover in recent years through reforestation and afforestaion programmes. LFCCs have experienced an average net increase of 0.3 per cent in natural and plantation forest area during the 1980 - 1990 period, compared which a net forest loss worldwide of between 0.1 and 0.2 per cent. Increasingly, the importance of forest management in LFCCs has been recognized; a number of LFCCs have developed national forestry action programmes and most have ratified the conventions on Biological Diversity, combating Desertification and climate change.

Forests provide a wide range of goods and services. In LFCCs, a high proportion of such goods and services derive from other wooded land. Farmland or plantation. LFCCs with low forest cover as a percentage of their total land area generally net importers of timber or timber products. Also, LFCCs may export small quantities of specialty timbers from species. Wood is the major energy source in many counties, including LFCCs. in addition to rounded and fuelwood forests and woodlands contribute very significantly to local and national economies though non- wood forest products (NWFPs). These are particularly important to the people living in an around the forests. NWFPs may be highly significant commercial rescues in local economies or may be export consumption and for export. They also play important roles in protecting the genetic resources of important crop species.

Wood resources and other forest products are special importance to the national economy and livelihood of a large proportion of the population in LFCCs. Based on the specificities of forests in LFCCs, the dependence of communities and forest dwellers include a variety of forests' goods and services including fuelwood charcoal, honey, gum, food, medicine, leaves, grazing provisions for livestock, and timber Important uses of trees include fuelwood, hut construction, livestock enclosures and fodder. Such as water - resource maintenance, edible products, and industry are especially important.

Unique forests

Unique types of forests are an extremely important part of natural heritage, which deserve particular attention of the international community. Unique forest ecosystems are especially important for biodiversity conservation. They may be areas with significant numbers of unique (that is endemic) species, or they may be areas with unique communities or associations of non- endemic species. Unique types of forests not only contribute to the national but also to the global biological diversity. Species richness and endemism of unique forests is also significant. Climate and isolation are vital for the economic, social and cultural life of dependent communities, specially the forest dwellers, in the developing LFCCs.

Protected areas

The development of comprehensive protected areas networks in LFCCs is an important step towards the protection and maintenance of biological diversity, as well as of natural and, associated cultural resources. This requires legal or other effective means supported by, tier alia adequate financial resources, technology, know how, and necessary data. The purposes for which sites are managed differ greatly, and may range from scientific research and tourism and recreation to the sustainable use of resources from natural ecosystems

[Contents] [Introduction] [Low Forest Cover] [Current Trends]
[Information Requirements] [Approaches and policy Options]
[Summery Of IPE Report On Low Forest Cover] [Proposals For Action]