What was the scenario of tropical forests in 1998?

Question

the biodiversity at that time

Answer 1

We are a long way away from knowing the true biodiversity of tropical rainforests at present, and we were certainly farther from that state of knowledge a decade ago.

Still, you may find the following to be useful reading:

http://rainforests.mongabay.com/0301.htm

http://forestry.about.com/cs/rainforest/...

http://www.rain-tree.com/facts.htm