This report (the title of which is abbreviated to TBFRA-2000) is the contribution by UN-Economic Commission for Europe (UN-ECE) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) to the FAO Global Forest Resource Assessment 2000. The objective of TBFRA-2000 is to collect and make available the best possible information on the forest resources of the 55 countries it covers. It is intended to be of use to governments and the international forest policy community and also to scientists, forest industries, NGOs and anyone interested in biodiversity and climate change. The report contains statistical and descriptive information and analyses of the following aspects of forests and wooded land: area - status and changes; ownership and management status; wood supply and carbon sequestration; biological diversity and environmental protection; forest condition and damage; socio-economic functions. The data were supplied by national correspondents who adjusted the raw national data to internationally agreed definitions. The reliability and comparability of the data is discussed in a separate chapter. The report also provides indicators of sustainable forest management.

The United Nations presents the full text of "Forest Resources of Europe, CIS, North America, Australia, Japan and New Zealand," published 2000. The report highlights the most recent information on the forest resources of the 55 industrialized countries, covering all aspects and functions of the forest. The report covers such topics as ownership and management status of forests, biological diversity and environmental protection, forest condition and damage, and socioeconomic functions of forests.

In the 1990s the world community has arrived at a particularly in developing countries and in econo historical turning point. Global issues- the decline mies in transition. These three organizations have of biological diversity, climate change, the fate of different backgrounds and focuses, but have found forest peoples, fresh water scarcity, desertification, it relevant and rewarding to their core operations to deforestation and forest degradation - have come collaborate in WFSE activities. The intention of to dominate the public and political debate about these organizations is to continue supporting the forestry. In the economic sphere, forest industries WFSE research and developing the mutual collab have assumed global dimensions. oration. The World Forests, Society and Environment In the year 2000,WFSE took on anewchallenge, Research Program (WFSE) is a response by the re extending its research network to involve five new searchcommunity to thisglobalization. The WFSE Associate Partners: the Center for International slogan 'Globalization calls for global research' re Forestry Research (CIFOR) in Indonesia;the Cent flects both the means and the end of the program. er for Research and Higher Education on Natural The program is involved in promoting and execut Resources of Tropical America (CATIE) in Costa ing research in different parts of the world, and Rica; the International Centerfor Research inAgro through its publications and communications net Forestry (ICRAF) in Kenya; the World Forestry work, linking researchers worldwide.