TROPICAL FORESTS AND THE GLOBAL CARBON-CYCLE - THE NEED FOR SUSTAINABLE LAND-USE PATTERNS

Deforestation and degradation of forest and agricultural land in the tropics contribute to the increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide, although the magnitude of the flux is under much debate. There is a great potential to control deforestation and further land degradation through increasing productivity and sustainability of the tropical landscape. Increased sustainable development will not only improve the economic well-being of the people living in the tropics but it has a great potential to reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations through reduction of emissions and increase in area of land that serves as carbon sinks.