of the social conflicts caused by their activity, since they appreciated neutral or positive encounters with other forest visitors. In contrast, 57% of hikers at Muttenz reported on negative experiences with other forest visitors, particularly with mountain bikers. In general, the interviewees' ecological and biological forest knowledge (forest type and function, species diversity) was rather high. A large proportion was aware of the pros and cons of different forest conditions for plants and animals, and could name or recognize at least some plant and/or animal species typical for the visited forest. The forest knowledge was neither influenced by the type of recreational activity carried out nor by any aspect of forest visit behavior (frequency and duration of forest visits, means of transportation and travel distance to forest). However,China's Agriculture Industry Grows - 2004-07-29

A new study by Washington's Institute for International Economics finds that China is becoming increasingly competitive in agricultural goods and that it stands to benefit from an easing of the restrictions that constrain world agricultural trade.

Institute director Fred Bergsten says the transformation of Chinese agriculture, which has lifted 300 million people out of poverty, is the most significant achievement in development economics in two decades. China has become a net food exporter. And its consumers have benefited from the steady reduction in import tariffs that was a condition of joining The World Trade Organization three years ago.

The study, entitled Roots of Competitiveness: China's Evolving Agricultural Interests, finds that China's farming has become more efficient and market oriented. This despite the absence of private