Earth without forests is a picture that most of the world could not conceive. Forests cover much of the planet's land area. They are extremely important to humans and the natural world. For humans, they have many aesthetic, recreational, economic, historical, cultural and religious values. Timber and other products of forests are important economically both locally and as exports. They provide employment for those who harvest the wood or products of the living forest. Herbalists, hunters and collectors of fungi, nuts, bamboo and berries are able to utilize such resources. Other non-wood forest products come in the form of medicinal compounds, dyes and fabrics. There are many people who are dependent on forestlands for their livelihoods. One-third of the world's people depend on wood for fuel as a significant energy source. Some indigenous peoples are completely dependent on forests. As well as providing a home for some people, the forest environment provides a popular setting for tourism, which includes hiking, camping, bird watching and other outdoor adventure or nature study activities. A major condition of deforestation is poverty. Although poverty is not a cause of deforestation, it is a condition of life that the majority of people. Forests play a crucial role in the economic life of Nepal. Almost 80 percent of the nation's twenty-two million inhabitants live in rural areas and depend heavily on subsistence agriculture. It is crucial for these people, to manage natural resources for continued well-being. Rural inhabitants rely on forests for food, fodder, fuel, wood, fertilizers, building materials, and medicinal plants. Forests also provide a key source of income in a country where the rural sector accounts for 40 percent of the gross domestic product and 80 percent of employment. Timber is the most significant forest product, and extensive stands of Sal Trees constitute a particularly valuable asset in Nepal's southern plains...
Earth without forests is a picture that most of the world could not conceive. Forests cover much of the planet's land area. They are extremely important to humans and the natural world. For humans, they have many aesthetic, recreational, economic, historical, cultural and religious values. Timber and other products of forests are important economically both locally and as exports. They provide employment for those who harvest the wood or products of the living forest. Herbalists, hunters and collectors of fungi, nuts, bamboo and berries are able to utilize such resources. Other non-wood forest products come in the form of medicinal compounds, dyes and fabrics. There are many people who are dependent on forestlands for their livelihoods. One-third of the world's people depend on wood for fuel as a significant energy source. Some indigenous peoples are completely dependent on forests. As well as providing a home for some people, the forest environment provides a popular setting for tourism, which includes hiking, camping, bird watching and other outdoor adventure or nature study activities. A major condition of deforestation is poverty. Although poverty is not a cause of deforestation, it is a condition of life that the majority of people. Forests play a crucial role in the economic life of Nepal. Almost 80 percent of the nation's twenty-two million inhabitants live in rural areas and depend heavily on subsistence agriculture. It is crucial for these people, to manage natural resources for continued well-being. Rural inhabitants rely on forests for food, fodder, fuel, wood, fertilizers, building materials, and medicinal plants. Forests also provide a key source of income in a country where the rural sector accounts for 40 percent of the gross domestic product and 80 percent of employment. Timber is the most significant forest product, and extensive stands of Sal Trees constitute a particularly valuable asset in Nepal's southern plains...