Behind the headlines about the loss of tropical forests in Latin America lies a complex and fascinating story of the social pressures which cause it. This book looks at the various groups, interests and conflicts involved, and explores the repercussions for forestry, the environment and the livelihoods of the rural and urban poor.

Offers a fresh perspective on the economic imperatives which encourage indigenous populations to encroach upon their own forests, and shows how action against deforestation must form part of a wider movement to improve both the living conditions of the local inhabitants and the durability of their national economies.