It is also clear that the structural integrity of much of the forest cover that remains has deteriorated. The facts are startling. The highest current estimate of the world's remaining forested areas is about 3.6 billion hectares from an originally forested area of more than 6.0 billion hectares. Primary forests have undergone the greatest transition. About 14 million hectares of tropical forests have been lost each year since 1980 as a result of changes in land-use from forest to agriculture.
Forest decline threatens the genetic diversity of the worlds plants and animals.
A study carried out in 1995 suggests that the direct causes for decline in forest quality in Europe are drought, heat, pests, and a legacy of silvicultural errors. The decline is relentless. We suspect it could change the very character of the planet and of the human enterprise within a few years unless we make some choices. One approach to this problem lies in the intrinsic understanding of the true nature of the values of forests. As people often do not realize the multiple uses of forests, its proper utilization is often overlooked.