Usage and economic forms of the forests of the earth

It is shown that the usage of forests and their working takes very distinctive forms. These depend in particular on human societies with their distinctive demand on the forest. The range of the contribution by the forests is shown by considering on one hand the slight usage by gathering and hunting people, on the other the protective forests of industrial states. This must be considered in any treatment of forests from the geographical view-point if a correct regional ordering of man's forestry activities is to be presented. The system of usage and working here presented can serve as a basis. Regional investigations are needed to refine the division, and here opens up a wide field of research. It is nevertheless accepted that the multi-functional character of forests, expressing the wishes and needs of the community, remains in the foreground of forest goegraphy.