A statement of principles - Planted forests cover ca. 264 million hectares, an area nearly the size of Argentina or Kazakhstan. They account for 7 percent of the global forest area, but have the potential to provide two thirds of the global industrial roundwood demand. In many countries planted forests have become a substantial component of the productive forest resource. A new FAO publication on planted forests appreciates the prominent role planted forests play for the global wood supply, the protection of the environment and the livelihood support in rural areas. It gives a concise summary of the principles for the responsible management of planted forests, which have been developed in a two-year multi-stakeholder process.