The publication of this first atlas, from the IUCN,in an authoritative 3-part series planned to cover all the world's tropical rain and monsoon forests is intended to inform the worldwide community involved in the debate on their future. The forest maps have been compiled from satellite and radar imagery, aerial photography, and data provided by forestry departments, charities, development agencies and international organisations. The text interprets them from a conservationist's standpoint and describes the local impact of deforestation in each country of the region, as well as the effects on species' diversity, shifting cultivation, natural forest management and the peoples of the tropical forests. They also describe control and limitation of human impact and current attempts to provide sustainable forest development by looking in turn at the tropical timber trade, the protected areas system, government policies and the Tropical Forestry Action Plan.