Commonwealth Forests

INTRODUCTION

This study of forests and forestry in the Commonwealth arose from an idea developed by the Commonwealth Foundation and the Commonwealth Forestry Association.  Commonwealth Forests aims to quantify and describe the present state of forestry in Commonwealth countries, and by identifying common challenges and opportunities to promote contacts and collaboration among foresters throughout the Commonwealth.

The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 53 independent countries, whose 1.8 billion people make up around 30 per cent of the world’s population.  The countries of the Commonwealth, spread across six continents, include some of the world’s largest – both in terms of area and in terms of population - and some of the smallest.  Three of its countries are among the most heavily forested in the world, and Commonwealth countries have historically been among the global pioneers of scientific and sustainable forestry.  Developments in the policies and practices that govern the forestry sector of the countries of the Commonwealth not only reflect what is happening in the rest of the world but also often forecast future trends.

The Commonwealth Forestry Association (CFA) is the world’s longest established international forestry organization, tracing its history back to 1921. Today it unites foresters, scientists, students, NGOs and policy makers throughout the Commonwealth and beyond in a unique international network that provides professional support to its members and forms a key element of civil society.

Commonwealth Forests has developed the concept of the former Commonwealth Forestry Handbook in providing not only facts and figures and useful contacts and references, but also an analysis of the sector and identification of the main challenges facing the forestry services of the countries of the Commonwealth.  It is organized in three parts: the text, in eight chapters, the data, in annexes, and the country information.

Commonwealth Forests is a collaborative effort of foresters of many nations, who are recognised in the Acknowledgements.  Unfortunately it cannot cover all aspects of forestry and not all readers will agree with those that have been included.  Inevitably some of the information will be out of date by the time it is printed.  We hope that readers will provide feedback to improve the balance and to update the information; we plan that the country information at least will shortly be put on the CFA website, and later perhaps the whole text.

Commonwealth Forestry Association

The Crib
Dinchope
Craven Arms
Shropshire
SY7 9JJ
England

Email: cfa@cfa-international.org 
Phone: +44 (0)1588 672868
Fax: +44 (0) 870 0116645