Management of natural forest of dry tropical zones FAO Conservation Guides Series, Vol. 32

The initiative by FAO and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) to take stock of the current state of natural forest conservation and management in the dry tropical zones forms part of this general movement. This movement acknowledges that every natural stand has an economic and social role to play and therefore implies the need to learn sustainable management techniques. The socio-economic importance of dry tropical forests is enormous in terms of meeting energy requirements, producing the bulk of wood resources in the countries concerned, fodder production (an essential strategic function), and the direct production of food for the poorest members of society. They also fulfil a number of ecological functions for the conservation of land resources and biological diversity. They therefore amply deserve the attention being paid to them. The purpose of this initiative was also to identify decisions and operational instructions based on past experience to foster development, indicate ways of research and action, and rationalise educational decisions. This study, which has been welcomed by all those involved in the conservation, management and sustainable development of these types of forests, is the result of wide-ranging co-operation involving the following institutions; in particular: SIDA, which financed it through its Trust Fund held with FAO; the Forestry Department of the Swedish University of Agronomic Sciences, which took part in researching and analysing the documentation on part of Latin America and East Africa; CIRAD-Forêt, which is the principal author and has contributed much of the documentation on experience not only in West Africa but also in other parts of the world; lastly, numerous consultants in Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and Asia, where the Institut Français de Pondichéry has documented some of the experiments carried out in the vast Indian subcontinent. Mr El-Hadji Sène, Chief of the Forestry Research, Education and Training Service, Forestry Resources Division of the FAO Forestry Department, designed this project and co-ordinated its implementation.