Deforestation Around the World

**3**

**Chapter 1**

**1. Introduction**

in the atmosphere [5–8].

**2. Forest degradation around the world**

Development

Introductory Chapter: Managing

Forests are important biological resources as they provide habitat for many of the world's species [1]. Forests also provide timber and non-timber forest products such as bamboo and rattan and food ranging from fruits, mushrooms, honey, and a wide variety of traditional medicines that are critical for human survival [2]. Furthermore, they are key component of many species' habitats, providing nourishment, shelter, and structural features needed for communication, surveillance, and other activities [3]. They also provide significant ecosystem services in terms of nutrients, water cycling, prevention of erosion, sequestration of carbon as well as performing of range of other physical and biological functions. Forests are the main filters in the earth since there are many pollutions from human activities such as industry and motor transportation are disposed, i.e., carbon dioxide (CO2), water (H2O), nitrogen (N), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and sulfur dioxide (SO2) (National Research Council U.S., 1972). These pollutants can be filtered by plants for its life cycle, thereby reducing pollution at the atmosphere, although CO2 and H2O become main material for their photosynthesis [4]. Results from photosynthesis of plants are the main energy resources for all animal life including human. It is a substantial ecosystem service in terms of providing nutrients, water recycling, prevention of erosion, and carbon storage in the terrestrial ecosystem as well as sequestering CO2

The growth in human population has forced mankind to explore existing resources, including forest for multiple purposes [9], for instance, logging of timber for wood-based industries, agricultural activities, urban areas, road, and mining. All these practices are done at different stages of forest growth which give significant impacts on the stand structure, composition, and other components of the forest and will consequently reduce forest productivity and their ecosystem functions [10]. During early civilizations, forest occupied about half of the earth's surface. However, it has, at the moment, reduced into less than one-third of the total earth's surface. The significant reduction of the forest areas requires appropriate planning and management for the conservation [8], especially forest in the tropical and subtropical areas in the developing nations. Today, the degradation of the forest due to anthropogenic activities and natural disturbances is significantly reducing total forest areas in the world. Originally, tropical forest covered about 1.5–1.8 billion ha

World's Forests for Sustainable

*Mohd Nazip Suratman and Zulkiflee Abd Latif*
