THE INTERNATIONAL-LAW OF FORESTS

Although forests are common property subject to open access, timber, land and other forest resources have been appropriated for various purposes. However, displaced forest dwelling and forest-dependent people, diminshed wildlife and plant populations, damaged agricultural watersheds and fisheries, degraded air, and global climate change threaten long-term forest health and domestic wellbeing. A framework for an international law of forests is constructed from international agreements which address these problems, including the Forest Principles and other agreements signed at the 1992 U.N. Conference on Environment and Development. Improved methods and financial support are needed for forest restoration and conservation.