GUEST EDITORIAL: WHAT WILL WE USE THE FORESTS FOR?

Since time immemorial, forests have provided a range of goods and services for humans. They have also been an impediment, as much of the land needed for agriculture, cities, infrastructure and other uses was once covered by forest and, at some time in the past has had to be cleared. Such clearance is still occurring today, although the 2010 Global Forest Resources Assessment reveals that the majority of clearance is occurring in tropical countries, whereas the area of temperate and, to a lesser extent, boreal forests is increasing. Data on forest extent do not reflect changes in forest quality, although since the advent of the possibility of payments for reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD), there has been growing recognition the importance of ensuring that forests are not degraded.