A “global garden” is possible: urban and rural life, and forestry

“In the next 20 years, Homo sapiens, ‘the wise human’, will become Homo sapiens urbanus in virtually all regions of the planet.” UN-Habitat (2008) “Nature is not merely ‘nice.’ It is not just a matter of improving one's mood, rather it is a vital ingredient in healthy human functioning.” Kaplan (1992) “The sustainability of the Third Landscape, of diversity, of biological future, is connected to human number, mainly to practices utilized by humans.” Clément (2006) Not only is there empirical evidence of the nexus between forests and human life, but it is also the subject of multidisciplinary studies involving professionals from many different disciplines: foresters, architects, sociologists, urban planners, rural policymakers and even psychologists. If the human population continues to grow, the world's forests will exist only in the framework of societal needs. The world's forests play a multifaceted and fundamental role both in urban and rural areas, in productive and environmental realms. Thus, global attention is required for devising effective forestry policy, even if it appears utopian. Humans can cultivate the entire planet, but in the long term should support an intrinsic millennial perspective for nature and biology, in relation to both cultivated (urban and rural) and uncultivated lands. Ultimately, the globe is a small and fragile “garden” and sustainable development will be possible by embracing the “technocentric” vision of sustainability. The main forest product worldwide is still roundwood, which provides revenue for landowners and workers. However, the non-market benefits provided by forests are fundamental in both the country and the city, and could alleviate the dire environmental conditions in urban areas, where the majority of the world's people are already living. A global governance of sustainability can support the world's forests, and all natural resources, only by taking into account human numbers.