The Forests Handbook, Volume 1: An Overview of Forest Science

The future of the world's forests is at the forefront of environmental debate. Rising concerns over the effects of deforestation and climate change are highlighting the need both to conserve and manage existing forests and woodland through sustainable forestry practices. The Forests Handbook, written by an international team of both scientists and practitioners, presents an integrated approach to forests and forestry, applying our present understanding of forest science to management practices, as a basis for achieving sustainability.

Volume One presents an overview of the world's forests; their locations and what they are like, the science of how they operate as complex ecosystems and how they interact with their environment. Volume Two applies this science to reality; it focuses on forestry interventions and their impact, the principles governing how to protect forests and on how we can better harness the enormous benefits forests offer. Case studies are drawn from several different countries and are used to illustrate the key points.

Development specialists, forest managers and those involved with land and land-use will find this handbook a valuable and comprehensive overview of forest science and forestry practice. Researchers and students of forestry, biology, ecology and geography will find it equally accessible and useful.

Julian Evans is professor of Tropical Forestry at the Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, University of London and also holds an Honorary Chair at the University of Wales, Bangor, UK. He was formerly Chief Research Officer of the British Forestry Commission and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Foresters. He is author of over 100 scientific papers and seven technical books on temperate and tropical forestry. Julian is a vice-chair of the Commonwealth Forestry Association and Country Vice-President for UK of the International Society of Tropical Foresters (IUSF).