Winner of the International Studies Association's Harold and Margaret Sprout Award 2008 for the best book on international environmental problems.

This pioneering study examines the impacts of neoliberal global governance on forests and provides an exhaustive overview of international forest politics:
Intergovernmental Panel on Forests
World Commission on Forests and Sustainable Development
Intergovernmental Forum on Forests
United Nations Forum on Forests
Forest Certification
New policies to address illegal logging
World Bank's forests strategy
Convention on Biological Diversity - and other international forest-related processes

The book is an essential reference for students of global environmental politics and required reading for forest policy makers. It concludes by arguing for a democratization of global governance and a fundamental restructuring of the regulatory environment so that final decision making authority is restored to the local level. Driven by concern at what forest loss means for communities and future generations, this is a book that stands to make a difference.

About the Author
David Humphreys is Senior Lecturer in Environmental Policy at The Open University, UK, and author of Forest Politics: The Evolution of International Cooperation (1996).

Reviews

'The most thorough analysis so far on international forest processes. The arguments and information put forward will be of high interest for both policy makers and future researchers'
Birger Solberg, Professor of Forest Economics, Norwegian University of Life Sciences and first Director, European Forest Institute (1993 - 1996)

'Provides a broad, historical perspective on international forest politics and policies. David Humphreys is one of the few people who has an overview of all the international processes concerning forests...I found the book full of thought provoking comment and innovative perspectives'
Jeffrey Sayer, Senior Associate, WWF International and Founding Director General CIFOR (1993 - 2001)

'An excellent well-researched volume that is Herculean in its breadth and depth. A timely, comprehensive and knowledgeable analysis that carefully details the obstacles facing efforts to develop meaningful global forest governance'
Benjamin Cashore, School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Yale University.

'This incisive, wide-ranging analysis explains the failure of international efforts to conserve the world's forests. Through detailed scruitny of the very grey literature about forests, and interviews with some of the key actors, David Humphreys exposes the political and economic interests blocking forestry reform. Anyone involved in global policy making about forests ignores this book at their peril'
Marcus Colchester, Director, Forest Peoples Programme

'Once again David Humphreys helps us to understand what lies beneath the surface in the world of international forest politics. The insights in this book will fascinate both newcomers to this field and those negotiators and stakeholders who have spent many years in the trenches. All can learn from this study'
Carole Saint-Laurent, Senior Forest Policy Advisor, IUCN - The World Conservation Union.

'A well-presented volume'
BC Forest Professional

Book Information
ISBN 9781844076116
Author David Humphreys
Format Paperback
Page Count 328
Imprint Earthscan Ltd
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 498g