Much of world's tropical forests managed poorly

Large swaths of the world’s tropical forests have been officially shielded from deforestation, but an international organisation says that may not be enough.

A newly published report says much of the land kept for permanent use as forests isn’t being managed sustainably or aren’t being managed at all.

The International Tropical Timber Organisation says in its report that it has counted 1.88 billion acres of so-called “permanent forest estate.” But only 10 per cent of that land is being managed sustainably, the Tokyo-based organisation said.

The ITTO is composed of 33 member nations who together account for 1.42 billion hectares of tropical forest, or 85 per cent of the world’s total.