People around the globe are demanding more and more from forests in general, and tropical forests in particular. Seldom are old demands met before new demands are added to the ever-expanding list. Forests are expected to provide raw materials in the form of wood and non-wood forest products. They are counted on to protect watersheds and coastal areas. They are also supposed to deliver once-in-a-lifetime experiences to ecotourists, sequester carbon and reduce the perceived threat of global warming. They have been described as reservoirs of global genetic, species and ecosystem diversity. And they also provide employment for millions of people. The complex and manifold roles of forests are fascinating as well as challenging.
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