In this book, an ornithologist and a forester have combined their skills to try and tease out the real facts behind the various arguments on forestry.

The conflict between forestry and nature conservation has become a major environmental issue in Britain in the 1980s. The planting of large tracts of land with exotic conifers and the resulting disturbance of existing plant and animal communities has polarized the debate, each camp believing that it has the most rational view.

But the interactions involved are complex. Which bird species are really threatened? How can we judge the relative value of bird species ousted by plantations and the new species which colonize them? How can the need for forest products be reconciled with the demands of conservationists?

This fascinating book tackles these issues in a forthright manner. It represents a significant step towards achieving the sort of prudent land planning that will really improve our beleaguered countryside.

Jacket painting by Philip Snow. Foreword by David Bellamy.