ABSTRACT
Currently, forests constitute 25 percent of the earth’s land surface area, but this is a reduction, possibly of up to a half, of that existing during pre-agricultural times (World Resources Institute 2000). Tropical deforestation, in particular, is of global concern, prompting leaders to seek protection for these natural resources. Forested ecosystems provide a plethora of goods and services. The World Resources Institute (WRI) distinguishes between the two—goods include timber, fuelwood, drinking and irrigation water, fodder, non-timber forest products (such as vines, bamboo, leaves), food (honey, mushrooms, fruits), genetic resources; whereas services consist of the removal of air pollutants, emission of oxygen, cycling of nutrients, maintenance of watershed functions and biodiversity, the sequestering of carbon, the moderation of weather extremes, the generation of soil, providing employment opportunities, provide human and wildlife habitat (two-thirds of all terrestrial species reside within the forest), contribute to aesthetic beauty, and provide recreation. However, sometimes the ideals of protection and preservation are at odds with the rights of those indigenous peoples residing in or around these tropical forests.
