Tropical forests are often perceived as natural spaces void of human presence. This, however, is a false impression. These forests have been inhabited for millennia, and people have significantly contributed to their rich biodiversity. People are thus integral elements of tropical forest ecosystems and as such need to be consulted, informed and involved when elaborating and implementing conservation and development projects. This book (a summary report) analyses the present situation for a large area of tropical forest in ACP (Africa-Caribbean-Pacific) countries, a zone where the European Union is particularly engaged. Although these countries appear to be in a chronic state of underdevelopment, the social, political, ecological and economic reality is more complex. Understanding this requires a comparative, multi-level and multi-disciplinary approach. Chapter I, People and tropical forests, outlines the APFT (Avenir des Peuples des Forêts Tropicales) regional approach, concentrating on the historical and cultural factors which have created differences which challenge the increasingly accepted idea of the global approach. Chapter II, People and tropical forests: 36 questions, raises and responds to important questions pertaining to the conservation and development which all sustainable development programmes should ideally take into account. These questions reflect the major intellectual and practical results of APFT. They should serve to help to define coherent development policies for the ACP zone. In chapter III, Protecting forests, helping their inhabitants?, research and political issues relating to tropical forests are presented in the form of an overview of 40 years of North-South relations. This overview is necessary because outdated perceptions still have currency in some circles. These perceptions continue to hamper the elaboration of viable social and economic policies, the rational conservation of biodiversity, and the cultural and social well-being of both urban and rural populations. Chapter IV, Four proposals for improving the sustainable management of tropical forests, addresses the following points: practical and ethical concepts influencing development and conservation; diverging objectives of development and conservation; ways of understanding the relationship between different levels of time and space; and how to elaborate more successful policies. The book concludes with some thoughts on the future of North-South relations in the area of tropical forest conservation.