Introduction
Today’s column reflects on a well-known hypothesis (forest transition theory), developed in research on the dynamics of forests in human societies. This hypothesis has been advanced since the early 1990s by Professor Alexander Mather, who identified recurring regularities in the long-term historical relationship between forests and societies, both as a general global phenomenon, as well as in the specific contexts of individual societies. His research has focused on the drivers of change in the forest cover. He was based in Scotland, where he researched and lived until his death in 2006.
Before outlining this hypothesis on forest transitions I will briefly recap, for readers’ benefit, where this hypothesis fits into the present series of columns, which I have been presenting so far this year. Readers may recall that, the series of articles started with a presentation on December 27, 2015, entitled ‘El Dorado at last: Guyana in a time of oil/gas production and export’. As indicated there, my intention is to review the extractive industries sector in the political economy of Guyana’s development since Indepen-dence and for the coming years of oil/gas production and export.