Table of Contents

List of tables, figures, and text boxes
Acknowledgments
1 The Global Political Economy of Timber
2 The Power of Big Retail
3 The Northern Forest and Paper Multinationals
4 The Rise of the Third World
5 Consuming the South
6 Governing Timber Consumption
Notes
Selected Readings
Index

About the Author

Peter Dauvergne is Professor of International Relations at the University of British Columbia.

Reviews

"A skillful and fascinating introduction to the way we produce andconsume timber. This challenging piece of research will be of greatinterest to academics, economists, businessmen and alertconsumers." Global Journal "In what increasingly reads like a Sherlock Holmesthriller, the authors unravel the alliances and corruption of thegiant multinational players involved in the rape of theforests." Irish Examiner "A rich, detailed, and insightful account of the power of bigbox retailers within global forest commodity chains. By offering anintriguing empirical account of the power of big box retailerswithin global commodity chains, the book speaks beyond the subjectof timber to inform more theoretical discussions of corporate powerin a globalized economy." Review of Policy Research "A great resource for improving the role retailers and consumersplay in the management of the world's forests." Compendium Newsletter "A very good introduction to the timber industry." Environment and Planning C "A welcome - and recommended - contribution to considerations ofthe challenges facing current and future forest use." Chartered Forester "Flows well in leading to its conclusion. Unlike many critiques,Timber provides a plausible answer to the problem itpresents." Choice "An interesting and, in parts, troubling book on the nature ofdeforestation throughout the world, that holds relevance foreveryone today." Furniture and Cabinetmaking "Timber uncovers the dark world of commodity chains thatlink the wood in our lives to global deforestation, and offers raysof hope for promising change. It elicits not simply intellectualengagement but deep gratitude toward the authors for theirpenetrating research, political insights and clarity of expression.The book should be required reading for everyone." Paul Wapner, American University, Washington DC "A deep and incisive expose of the roles that timber and retailinterests play in driving deforestation, the enormous economicpower they wield in the market place and the tactics they use toinfluence small firms. The book speaks beyond the subject of timberto provide an original and thoughtful commentary on howinternational commodity chains shape not only the global economybut the global environment." David Humphreys, Open University "A brilliant and powerful book that allows us to see the forestfor the trees. Its stunning expose is a must-read for scholarsand practitioners seeking a more promising and sustainablefuture." Ben Cashore, Yale University "Fascinating ... This book is an essential source of objectiveknowledge on the role that industry, retailers and consumers playin determining whether the world's forests are adequatelymanaged." Michael Jenkins, President, Forest Trends