Tropical Forests, International Jungle: The Underside of Global Ecopolitics (CERI Series in International Relations and Political Economy)

This book explores the complexities of what are tropical forests, what role they play not only in environmentalism but in trade, health care, and almost every facet of natural and social life for those living there and beyond. Although for most in the developed world tropical forests have gained a status of part of our world heritage, these forests are not really part of the global commons or a global public good. Developing nations maintain control over the forests within their borders and often use the forests as they see fit. The international system for mediating the issue is a fractured group of non-governmental organizations and transnational networks, often with competing views of how to manage tropical forests. Despite this seemingly grim picture, Marie-Claude Smouts is optimistic. A changing world view toward forest depletion is influencing countries both north and south. Although forests will be used commercially, it is a dynamic process that should maintain them far into the future. "This book explores the complexities of what are tropical forests, what role they play not only in the environmental but in trade, nutrition, energy, and almost every facet of natural and social life for those living there and beyond. Although for most in the developed world tropical forests have gained a status of part of our world heritage, these forests are not really part of the global commons or a global public good. Developing nations maintain control over the forests within their borders and often use the forests as they see fit. The international system for mediating the issue is a fractured group of nongovernmental organizations and transnational networks, often with competing views of how to manage tropical forests. Despite this seemingly grim picture, Marie-Claude Smouts sees signs of improvements. A changing world view toward forest depletion is influencing countries both north and south. Some progress toward better forest management has been made in the field, and there is a general awareness of the need to develop participatory management, one of the few notions to have emerged that takes in the issue in all its complexity. Although forests will continue to be used commercially, a new dynamic process is underway that should maintain them far into the future."--Jacket Marie-Claude Smouts looks at the issue of rain forest depletion and global environmental policies. Beginning with how the issue entered the world stage in the 1980s despite alarms over the issue in the 1950s, Tropical Forests, International Jungle explores the complexities of what are tropical forests, what role they play not only in environmentalism but in trade, health care, and almost every facet of natural and social life for those living there and beyond. Although for most in the developed world tropical forests have gained a status of part of our world heritage, these forests are not really part of the global commons or a global public good. Developing nations maintain control over the forests within their borders and often use the forests as they see fit. The international system for mediating the issue is a fractured group of non-governmental organizations and transnational networks, often with competing views of how to manage tropical forests. Despite this seemingly grim picture, Smouts is optimistic. A changing world view toward forest depletion is influencing countries both North and South. Although forests will be used commercially, it is a dynamic process that should maintain them far into the future. Beginning with how the issue entered the world stage in the 1980s despite alarms over it in the 1950s, this text explores the complexities of what tropical forests are, and the role they play in environmentalism and almost every facet of natural and social life for those living there and beyond. The tropical forest has become a global political object, meaning, an object of international negotiation leading to decisions likely to affect worlwide political and economic practices, following a scenario that is virtually the same for all environmental issues affecting the entire planet. Marie-claude Smouts ; Translated From The French By Cynthia Schoch. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [222]-247) And Indexes.