Final volume in this important series which provides a comprehensive overview of the status of rain forests in Central and South America, and the Caribbean. Organised in the same manner as the previous two volumes it comes in two parts. Part 1 introduces and discusses the complex interrelated issues in the regions that are involved in both deforestation as well as conservation of the tropical forests. Included are discussions on the history of the forests, agricultural colonisation policies and deforestation, conservation policies for plants and wildlife, protected areas, and the future of tropical forests. Part 2 is a very detailed and well referenced country-by-country analysis of conservation status and trends.