Global deforestation slows, but forest loss still vast: FAO

Nearly 500 million hectares of forest—an area roughly equivalent to 750 million football field, have been lost worldwide since 1990, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) latest Global Forest Resources Assessment.

While the figures remain alarming, the FAO notes that the rate of deforestation has slowed in every region over the past decade.
Between 2010 and 2020, the world lost around 10.9 million hectares of forest annually, compared to 13.6 million hectares in the previous decade and 17.6 million hectares in the decade before that.

The report, released on Tuesday, provides one of the most comprehensive overviews of global and regional forest trends. It combines remote sensing data, gathered through advanced satellite imaging, with detailed country-level reporting.

FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu emphasized the importance of these assessments, said the data “serves many purposes, from informing the global community of the status of forests and their changes, to supporting decisions, policies and investments related to forests and the ecosystem services they provide.”

One encouraging finding is that one-fifth of the world’s forests are now in a legally protected area, an increase of 251 million hectares since 1990. Asia leads globally with 26% of its forests under protection.

In addition, over half of all forests worldwide are now actively managed, serving multiple purposes including the production of timber, fibre, and bioenergy, as well as the protection of soil, water, and biodiversity. Europe stands out, with 94% of its forests under management regimes.

Ownership remains predominantly public, with 71% of forests globally owned by governments as of 2020. However, Indigenous Peoples and local communities play a growing role, particularly in North and Central America, where they collectively own over 41 million hectares of forest.

Climate Threats Persist: Despite the progress, the FAO warns that climate change continues to intensify risks to forest ecosystems. Wildfires, for instance, affect around 261 million hectares of land each year, nearly half of which is forested. In 2020 alone, 41 million hectares were damaged by insects, diseases, and extreme weather

The FAO’s findings align with global climate efforts such as the Paris Agreement, which encourages nations to preserve forests as vital carbon sinks. Regular assessments like this one help track progress toward those international commitments.

Looking ahead, FAO will spotlight forest conservation and sustainable development at the COP30 UN Climate Conference in Brazil next month, through a special Forest Pavilion dedicated to biodiversity and climate resilience.