Promotional Information

In Tropical Forests, Rudel analyzes hundreds of local studies from the past twenty years to develop a much-needed, global perspective on deforestation. With separate chapters on individual regions, including South and Central America, the Caribbean, and Africa, Rudel's work offers an up-to-date assessment of the world's tropical forests. In the concluding chapter, Rudel considers the implications of these trends and describes policy directions for conserving biodiversity and promoting sustainable development in each region.

Table of Contents

List of Figures List of Tables Preface Acknowledgments 1. Introduction 2. Theory and Method in Studying Regional Deforestation Processes 3. Central America and the Caribbean: Island and Isthmus Deforestation 4. The Amazon Basin: The Breakdown of Passive Protection 5. West Africa: From Cocoa Groves in Forests to Food Crops in Scrub Growth 6. Central Africa: Passive Protections for Rain Forests 7. East Africa: Sustainable Spots Surrounded by Degrading Expanses 8. South Asia: A Turning Point for Forests? 9. Southeast Asia: Deforesting the Lowlands, Afforesting the Highlands 10. Through a Regional Lens: Conservation Policies in Large and Small Forests Appendix: Case Studies and Accompanying QCAs for Each Region Notes References Index

About the Author

Thomas K. Rudel is a professor in the departments of human ecology and sociology at Rutgers University. He is the author of Tropical Deforestation: Small Farmers and Land Clearing in the Ecuadorian Amazon.

Reviews

"Relevant to anyone with an interest in patterns of land use and change." -- Southeastern Naturalist "A lifetime of experience working with tropical forests is utilized in this book to provide an insightful assessment." -- Harini Nagendra, Landscape Ecology