Trends in forestry law in Europe & Africa (FAO legislative study n° 72)

Recent years have witnessed a significant acceleration in the revision of forest laws around the world. Forest law increasingly recognizes the multiple interests involved in or affected by forest management, with greater attention given to the environmental and social roles of forest resources and to their sustainable management and use. In addition, renewed emphasis is being placed on the involvement of a wider range of public and private actors. Issues in which forest laws have been reoriented include local forest and private management, the environmental functions of forests, forest management planning and forest utilization contracts. This legislative study attempts to identify the main trends observable in forestry legislation on a regional basis. The present publication covers a sample of forest laws from Europe and Africa. A previously published volume (FAO Legislative Study No. 66, 92-5-104239-X ) covered Latin America, North America and Asia.