population and natural resources forest products 63 f orests are a principal global economic as well ecological resource this creates major challenges for the world it tries to find ways of using them sustainably benefit their inhabitants wider community while maintaining many functions forests have arguably played bigger role in development human societies than any other bar water cultivable land 1 prime direct or marketable product most today is wood use timber fuelwood pulp paper providing some 3 4 billion cubic meters equivalent year globally after 60 percent increase between 1960 1990 consumption fluctuated but rose no further during 1990s largely due more effi cient recycling there sharp divide total poor rich nations because large demand fuel s leading per capita con sumers all three times average include at levels liberia zambia malaysia costa rica sweden
