At a time when the world's forests face more acute pressure than during any other period in history,
the world's two largest conservation organisations, WWF and the World Conservation Union (IUCN) have,
for the first time, joined forces to develop a common policy position on forests.
Forests For Life - The WWF/IUCN Policy Book sets out this position.
They believe that the earth's forests currently face two critical problems: deforestation and loss
of forest quality. In order to resolve these issues, WWF and IUCN have defined a challenge for the
world community: to halt and reverse the loss and degradation of forests and all kinds of woodlands
by the year 2000.
The two organisations have concluded that this goal can only be attained if five priority objectives
are fulfilled:
Establishment of a network of ecologically - representative protected areas
Environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable forest management outside protected areas
Implementation of ecologically and socially appropriate forest restoration programmes
Reduction of forest damage from global change
Consumption of forest goods and services at levels that do not damage the environment