As the global community looks for ways to move to a greener economy, it is increasingly clear that forests, forestry and forest products must play a central role. This tenth edition of State of the World’s Forests explores the role of forests in human history, finding strong links between forest use and economic and social development and between unabated forest destruction and economic decline. It suggests that forest production has an important role to play in a sustainable future in which consumption and production are connected in a closed cycle. It points out the importance of striking a balance between forest conservation and use, and proposes four strategies for ensuring that forests make their vital contribution to a greener, more sustainable world.