The destruction of the tropical forests proceeds Nobody at the symposium believed that the rapidly. We all know that this has global ecologi­ tropical forest area would remain untouched. cal and economical consequences. The problem The population explosion takes care of that argu­ is of such magnitude that it can only be com­ ment. The two main problem areas before us are pared to warfare. The destruction of tropical first the wise utilization of that portion of the forests is not only detrimental to the global forest which will be used - especially the intro­ ecology but also poses a serious threat to the duction of planned forestry in such areas, and people living in this area. Furthermore the over­ second, the development of a good plan for utilization of such a valuable resource poses a nature conservation in the tropics. serious threat to the next generations. The papers presented at the symposium will Apart from the problem generated for the most certainly not solve all the problems but we people in those regions and on earth in general hope they contribute to the very much needed, there is a moral obligation to preserve the vast continued discussion of possible solutions which biological diversity in the tropical forests. We must be implemented in the near future.

One: Contributions to the problem of restoration and rehabilitation of disturbed areas.- 1. Restoration of native forests from Japan to Malaysia.- 2. Ecosystem rehabilitation and forest regeneration in the humid tropics: Case studies and management insights.- 3. Biological characters and plasticity of juvenile tree stages to restore degraded tropical forests: A systems framework for site analysis and restoration research.- 4. Soil site factors influencing the reforestation on mining sites in Amazonia.- 5. Restoring Caribbean dry forest: Programme proposition for genetic resource maintenance.- 6. Secondary forest regeneration on degraded tropical lands: The role of plantations as "foster ecosystems".- 7. The ecology of Zambezian dry evergreen forest with recommendations for conservation management.- 8. Problems associated with raising trees from seeds: The Ethiopian experience.- 9. Mixed species plantations using high value rainforest trees in Australia.- 10. The rehabilitation of the tropical rainforests' ecosystems: Cooperative research between UPM and YNU.- 11. Rehabilitation of tropical forests from countryside to urban areas.- Two: Ecologically sound suggestions for management and aspects of nature conservation in tropical forestry.- 12. The ITTO-guidelines for the sustainable management of natural and planted tropical forests.- 13. Conversion of exploited natural Dipterocarp forests into semi-natural production forests.- 14. Some effects of selective logging on forest productivity and ecology.- 15. Utilization and protection of the forest belt of Mount Kenya (East Africa).- 16. Research and development programme for forestry in Sarawak: A pilot model approach towards sustainable forest management and economic development.- 17. Environmentally sound timberharvesting: Logging guidelines, conservation reserves and rehabilitation studies.- 18. Conservation and restoration of montane forest communities in Thailand.- 19. Conservation of some disturbed Indian tropical rain forest ecosystems.- Three: Political aspects of timber harvest in the tropics and evaluation of the discussions at the Symposium.- 20. Contribution to environmental action by a timber processing company.- 21. Mitsubishi's unsustainable timber trade: Sarawak.- 22. Future problems and working trends for sustainable management and restoration of tropical forests: Podium discussion.- 23. Challenges in extending development to the Penan community of Sarawak.- 24. Concluding remarks.- Index of plant and animal names.- Index of scientific names.- General index.