They are some of the least privileged groups in our global society. They depend on the forests for many important products and environmental services. Included in this population of forest-dependent peoples are the world's 150 million native or indigenous peoples who rely on the forests for their way of life. They not only meet their economic needs for food and shelter but also form an integral part of their culture and spiritual traditions. Tropical forests account for approximately 25 percent of this production.
World production is divided almost equally between industrial uses and fuelwood.
Whereas the developed countries produce most of the world's industrial wood products, developing countries account for the majority of fuelwood consumed. Fuelwood and charcoal makes up 56 per cent of global wood production and developing countries account for almost 90 per cent of it. Wood is by far the most important source of energy for developing countries and the only source of energy for much of the world's rural areas. These include fibres, resins, latexes, fruits, and traditional medicines. Forests are often important sources of foodstuffs, particularly in times of drought and famine when conventional agricultural crops have failed.