Presents an insightful analysis of how deforestation and social struggles are related in the Chiapas region of Mexico, and then considers the implications of these links for the remaining forest. Instead of focusing on the driving forces of deforestation, the author argues that an analysis of the countervailing forces of conservation efforts is crucial to understanding the configuration of the present-day forest and the conflicts that surround it. Unless these forces can be fused, O'Brien contends, the future of the Selva Lacondona will continue to be shaped by the tensions among social, economic, and environmental objectives.