People, forests and biodiversity

This issue of the SANGEC (Scottish Academic Network on Global Environmental Change) Bulletin contains transcripts of the September 1994 SANGEC/Reforesting Scotland Workshop on ôPeople, Forests and Biodiversityö and the November 1994 Scottish NGO Report on Forests to the UN Commission of Sustainable Development which was its final result. The editorial focuses on the Scottish NGO Report of Forests and five sections focussing on different aspects of forest management follow. The first section looks at the rationale for the reforestation process in Scotland, with focus on people, industry and biodiversity. Section two considers local implications of international models, concentrating on participation on the national level on the UNCED model, and natural products and indigenous knowledge. The third section looks at forests, communities and rural development in Scotland, with papers on community woodlands and empowerment; the role of government in rural development and community forest management; and an overview of community forestry. Section four focuses on sustainable management of forests with focus on Scottish hardwoods and eco-labelling of the pulp and paper industry. Finally, section five discusses the Scottish Rural Development Forestry Programme.