The world's forests have been under siege since the turn of the century, but this year has been calamitous. In Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Central America, Africa and Indonesia, fires have destroyed some 16 million forested hectares (40 million acres). The task of saving the forests has been left to private conservation groups, whose resources are limited. The fact that one of these groups have joined to save 1.6 million hectares might shame Western governments into broader action. (editorial)