NEWS – State of the World’s Forests 2024 released by Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

HIGHLIGHTS

Global Overview:

• Deforestation Rates:
  • Global deforestation rates have slowed down.
  • Significant improvements in several countries.
  • Estimated net loss: 4.7 million ha/year (2010-2020), lower than previous decades.

Forest Statistics:

• Global Forest Area:
  • 2020: 4.1 billion ha (31% of land area).
  • Major contributors: Russia, Brazil, Canada, USA, China.
• Deforestation Data:
  • 1990-2020: 420 million ha converted.
  • Deforestation rates fell from 15.8 million ha/year (1990-2002) to 10.2 million ha/year (2015-2020).
• Regional Data:
  • Africa: 4.41 million ha deforested.
  • South America: 2.95 million ha.
  • Asia: 2.24 million ha.

Forest Gains and Improvements:

• Countries with Gains:
  • China, Australia, India, Chile, Vietnam, Turkey, USA, France, Italy, Romania.
• Recent Reductions:
  • Indonesia: 8.4% decrease in deforestation (2021-22).
  • Brazil: 50% decrease in deforestation (2023).

Mangroves:

• Global Area:
  • 14.8 million ha, with South and Southeast Asia contributing 44%.
• Trends:
  • 23% decrease in mangrove loss rate (2000-2020).
  • Asia: Major contributor to mangrove loss and gains.
• Threats:
  • Extreme weather events, sea-level rise.

Wildfires and Emissions:

• 2023 Data:
  • 383 million ha affected by fire.
  • Fires emitted 6,687 megatons of CO2, more than double EU emissions.
• Impact:
  • Boreal fires in 2021: 10% of global CO2 emissions.
  • Canada: 14.6 million ha burned.

Pests and Diseases:

• Impact on Forests:
  • Pine wood nematode damage in China, Japan, South Korea.
  • USA: Insects and disease causing over 20% tree loss in 25 million ha.
• Challenges:
  • Monitoring forest degradation and pest outbreaks remains in early stages.
  • Difficult to quantify economic costs and ecosystem service impacts.