Introduction

Module 1 present a historical background on deforestation and its underlaying causes, as well as the international arrangements to achieve SFM on a global level. An understanding of Sustainable Forest Management at the global level is a prerequisite for implementing the concept and procedure at national and local levels.

This Module also provides an updated status of international policy regime especially as related to the role of forests in achieving sustainable development and climate change mitigation as well as conservation of biodiversity and combating desertification.

Outcomes

By the end of this module, you should be able to:

• Recall why forests are of global concerns.
• Rate the latest information about state of world’s forests and how to update your information regularly.
• Identify the evolution of the concept of sustainable forest management (SFM) from an international perspective.
• Evaluate the global policies to promote SFM.