Prospects for the Development of the International Forest Law

Abstract

The article analyses the development of the international forest law in the period since 1992 and assesses the prospects for its future success. At the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development it was assumed by some countries and international organizations that the creation of a global treaty would lead to sustainable forest management on a global scale. Yet, the opposition to the proposed treaty was strong, so, instead, a non-binding forest instrument was agreed upon. Since 1992 a variety of forest related treaties, policies and institutions have emerged, but none has significantly reduced deforestation. The creation of a forest-specific agreement remains on the agenda and will be reconsidered in 2020. This article reviews the international forest regulation and discusses the possible path forward within the international legal system.