Why Forests? Why Now?

Tropical forests are an undervalued asset in meeting the greatest global challenges of our time-averting climate change and promoting development. Despite their importance, tropical forests are being destroyed at a high and increasing rate in most forest-rich countries. The good news is that science, economics, and politics are aligned to support a major international effort to reverse tropical deforestation.Why Forests? Why Now? synthesizes the latest evidence on the importance of tropical forests in a way that is accessible to anyone interested in climate change and development and to readers already familiar with the problem of deforestation. It makes the case to decision makers in rich countries that rewarding developing countries for protecting their forests is urgent, affordable, and achievable.