This book is an authoritative contribution to the scientific debate about just how much destruction there is and what effect it is having (and will have) on ecosystems and societies. Contents: Introduction; The process of deforestation; The history of deforestation; Monitoring rates of change; On-site biological effects; On-site physical effects; Deforestation and global climate; Downstream rivers; hydrology and channel processes; Forest clearance and indigenous cultures; The economics of forestry in local and national economies; Case studies I: Western Europe; Case studies II: Brazil; Case Studies III: South-east Asia; Summary and prospects.