Plantation Politics

Wood production in the tropics has more than doubled in the last decade, yet the proportion of industrial forest plantations has declined. Plantations should be more economically viable and environmentally acceptable than taking wood from the natural forest, while offering substantial benefits to local people. So what are the problems and what has gone wrong? This book addresses the basic questions of the rationale and purpose of industrial plantations in the developing world, and questions whether they can satisfy both national economic goals and global demands for carbon storage.