2026-06-27http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/236499This paper analyses historical trends in social and economic developments in the region and provides a commentary on factors which appear to influence growth. The implications of future development for the forestry sector are highlighted. The paper concentrates on two main variables: population and gross domestic product (GDP). It also examines wider issues thought likely to have an effect on the forestry sector, such as population density, income distribution, the structure of economies, develo pment planning, investment, trade and the prominence of the forest sector in the national economy.application/pdfFAOBook (stand-alone)