Sustainable forest management in Latin America

and the Caribbean.

49% of the total area of Latin America and the Caribbean is covered by forests: they
are 891 million hectares that represent about 22% of the existing forest area in the
world. The region owns 57% of the world's primary forests, the most important from
the point of view of biodiversity and conservation. 18% of the region's total forest area
is in protected areas, and
14% of the area total was designated for productive
functions.

The total carbon stored in the Forest biomass totals 104 giga-tonnes. Reduce
deforestation The main challenge for governments in the region is to tackle
deforestation, which has decreased in recent years, but remains high. In a
positive contrast, the forest area designated for the conservation of biodiversity in
the region has grown by 3 million hectares annually since 2000. According to studies
of the FAO, the annual loss of forests in the Region during the period 2000-2005
was 4.7 million hectares, a figure that corresponds to
65% of global
losses.

Manage forest resources Sustainable forest management goes far beyond the
problem of deforestation and reforestation: it has to do with societies and people, and
the need for themselves can maintain and increase services, economic benefits and
health of forests for their own development and better quality of life. The
Strong, well-organized community-based organizations are key to successfully
implement sustainable forest management.