Recent years have witnessed a significant acceleration in the revision of forest laws around the world. Forest law increasingly recognizes the multiple interests involved in or affected by forest management, with greater attention given to the environmental and social roles of forest resources and to their sustainable management and use. In addition, renewed emphasis is being placed on the involvement of a wider range of public and private actors. Issues in which forest laws have been reoriented include local forest and private management, the environmental functions of forests, forest management planning and forest utilization contracts.