Development, democracy and forest trends

Global forest trends are analysed in relation to indicators of economic, so cial and political development. The richest and most democratic countries a re characterised by stable or expanding forests, while poor and despotic co untries tend to experience rapid forest loss. The conclusion is that a high level of development is beneficial rather than detrimental to the sustaina bility of forest area. This conclusion is discussed briefly in relation to the relationship between the human and environmental dimensions of sustaina ble development. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.