Changes in global forest distribution

Abstract

A tremendous amount has been written recently about the worldwide destruction of forests. Forests are valued as an important source of wood for industrial and residential use, fiber and fuel, and as providers of clean water, clean air and outdoor recreation. Forests store tons of carbon, which otherwise might be in the atmosphere in the form of carbon dioxide contributing to the build-up of greenhouse gases and so increasing the potential for global warming (Dixon et al., 1994). In addition, some of the planet’s greatest biological diversity is found in forests. Thousands of plant and animal species depend on forested habitat for their existence. In fact, there is a great diversity of forests themselves, ranging from the boreal forests of the northern hemisphere to the moist and dry forests of tropical latitudes. Such a variety of ecosystems, that collectively cover roughly 39% of the world’s land surface (WCMC, 1992), is the key to the global diversity of life.