Published on: 2026-05-11
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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From 2015 to 2025, the area of the Earth’s forest cover has decreased by more than 40 million hectares. Despite the growing recognition of the role of forests in combating the consequences of climate change and in ensuring food security for people worldwide, these ecosystems continue to disappear. This is warned by the authors of the new UN report, presented on Monday at the opening of the 21st session of the UN Forum on Forests.
The document contains the most up-to-date assessment of the implementation of the UN Strategic Plan for Forests 2017–2030 and six global forest-related goals. The report is based on voluntarily provided data from 48 countries, which account for 51 percent of the world’s forest resources, as well as on available global data.
“Forests have a decisive significance for achievingGoals in the field of sustainable development“– from combating climate change and preserving biodiversity to ensuring food security and sustainable sources of income,” said the Assistant to the UN Secretary-General on Policy Coordination Bjerg Sandkjer.
According to her, investments in forests are investments in a sustainable economy, climate stability, and the well-being of future generations.
Uneven progress
Fifty-four percent of the world’s forestsconcentrated in five countries: 20 percent – in the Russian Federation, 12 percent – in Brazil, nine percent – in Canada, seven percent – in the USA, and 5 percent – in China.
The authors of the report note that many countries are taking serious steps to conserve forests: expanding protected forest areas, strengthening control over forest use, implementing programs for the restoration of degraded lands, and developing international cooperation.
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For example, Russia previously reported that from 2018 to 2021, 1.7 million hectares of forests were restored, which allowed exceeding the original target of restoring 1.55 million hectares by 2024.
However, overall progress remains uneven. Out of 26 global target indicators, only seven have been fully achieved, 17 have been partially realized, and two areas—reducing forest loss and eliminating extreme poverty among forest-dependent populations—are off on the wrong trajectory.
What threatens the forests
Among the main threats, experts name changes in the nature of land use,climate shocks, forest fires, pests, as well as illegal logging and other illegal activities.
An additional problem remains insufficient funding. According to UN data, the volumes of funds directed towards sustainable forest management are significantly below the necessary level.
Accelerate the achievement of goals
The authors of the report note that examples of national leadership and initiatives at the local community level demonstrate: progress can be significantly accelerated.
The Director of the UN Forests Forum Secretariat, Juliette Bio, emphasized that there is no time to delay – the deadline for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals is less than five years away. According to her, political will, new financing mechanisms, and coordination between different economic sectors will play a decisive role.
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