Introduction to World Forestry / Edition 1

by Jack Westoby

Overview

This outstanding book is a history of the forests of the world, a description of their present state, and an assessment of their prospects in the future. Written in a straightforward, readable style and from a position of wide knowledge and intense commitment, it is addressed to all those interested in forests, whether for professional reasons or out of individual concern. The book opens with a description of the evolution of trees, their biochemistry, and their ecological importance in both global and local terms. The author compares the different methods of forest management, past and present, and considers why so few of the forests of the world are managed. He then examines the human impact on forests, from slash-and-burn activities to the accelerating assault on tropical forests. He describes and assesses the current state of the world's forests and considers the issues of forest ecology in both the developed and developing world. Jack Westoby concludes with a critique of current Western development policies for the future of forests, and puts forward a programme that would take account of the scientific, cultural and economic needs of present and future generations. Jack Westoby died in 1988, shortly after completing this book. It is expected that an Educational Trust will be set up which will receive all royalties from his writings, and which will be based at: The Oxford Forestry Institute, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3RB.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780631161349
Publisher:	Wiley
Publication date:	01/08/1991
Pages:	240
Product dimensions:	7.87(w) x 9.84(h) x 0.59(d)

About the Author

Jack Westoby was former Senior Director of the Department of Forestry at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Association and the Society of American Foresters, and Foreign Member of Finland, Italy and Sweden. Statistician and economist with UK Board of Trade, he joined UN's FAO and subsequently became Senior Director in Dept of Forestry. Jack Westoby died in September 1988.

Table of Contents

Preface.

Acknowledgements.

Part I: About trees:.

1. Trees before the coming of humans.

2. How trees work.

3. About wood.

4. Other forest products.

5. Further benefits from trees.

6. The scope for management.

Part II: People and trees:.

7. The origins and spread of humans.

8. Britain up to Roman times.

9. Mediterranean forests in classical times.

10. Britain after the Romans.

11. The poor man's overcoat.

12. The European assault on the tropical forests.

13. The development of forest science.

Part III: The state of the world's forests:.

14. The World's forest cover.

15. Australia.

16. Brazil.

17. British India and after.

18. China.

19. Cuba.

20. Indonesia.

21. Nepal.

22. The Philippines.

Part IV: The main forest issues:.

23. The tropical forests.

24. The road to famine.

25. Forests in the rich countries.

Part V: Making trees serve people:.

26. Social forestry.

27. Agroforestry.

28. Involving people in forestry.

29. Forestry aid.

30. Foresters and forest policies.

Bibliography.

Index

Editorial Reviews

"If one had to recommend a single book to someone who wished to understand the significance of forestry for our planet ... then this might well be the book." Journal of Development Studies

"Sadly this is Jack Westoby's last book: there could be no better epitaph." Times Higher Education Supplement

From the Publisher