Context:
Recently, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) released the State of the World’s Forests 2024 Report, which has sparked both reassurance and worry about the condition of global forests.
Key Findings of the Report
Global Forest Coverage and Deforestation:
- The Report highlights that while the rate of deforestation has slowed down globally as compared to previous decades, the forest ecosystem continues to face significant threat due to climate change.
- While an estimated 420 million hectares of forests were converted to other land uses between 1990 and 2020, the rate of deforestation declined over the said period.
The rate of deforestation declined from 15.8 million ha per year in 1990–2000 to 10.2 million ha per year in 2015–2020.
The annual rates of deforestation in 2015–2020 were 4.41 million ha in Africa, 2.95 million ha in South America and 2.24 million ha in Asia. - Globally, the net rate of change in forest area, which is the difference between forest expansion and deforestation, is estimated at –4.7 million ha per year in 2010–2020. This was significantly lower than in the two previous decades (–7.8 million ha per year in 1990–2000 and –5.2 million ha per year in 2000–2010)
- The top 10 countries recording annual gains in forest area in 2020 (in decreasing order), are – China, Australia, India, Chile, Viet Nam, Turkey, the United States of America, France, Italy and Romania.
Trends in Forest Cover:
- In 2020, the forests covered approximately 4.1 billion hectares or 31% of the global land area.
- More than half (54%) of the world’s forests are in only five countries – the Russian Federation, Brazil, Canada, the United States of America and China (in descending order, by area)
- Above five countries along with Australia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Indonesia, Peru and India, contribute about two-thirds of the global forest area.
On Mangroves:
- Global mangrove area was recorded to be 14.8 million ha, out of which South and Southeast Asia contributed almost 44%.
- The rate of gross global mangrove loss decreased by 23% (2000-2020), and the rate of gain in mangrove areas also decreased slightly.
- Asia significantly influences both mangrove loss and gains due to activities such as aquaculture, conversion to oil palm plantations, rice cultivation, and other agricultural practices.
- Mangroves face threats from extreme weather and sea-level rise, thus making the local communities vulnerable to disasters.
On Wildfires:
- Annual fire impacted 340-370 million ha of land area globally, with 383 million ha affected in 2023.
- Boreal fires in 2021 contributed 10% of global CO2 emissions from wildfires.
- In 2023, Canada’s fires emitted 6,687 megatons of CO2, which is more than double the EU’s fossil fuel emissions.
On Forest Pests:
- The report also found that forests experience threats from pests.
- Pine wood nematode affected forests in China, Japan, and South Korea.
According to the Korea Forest Service, 12 million pine trees were lost in South Korea (between 1988-2022) due to it.
About FAO
- The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), is a specialized agency of the United Nations and an intergovernmental organization established in 1945.
- It aims to eliminate hunger globally.
- Its mission is to ensure that everyone has reliable access to sufficient, nutritious food for healthy and active lives.
- It operates in more than 130 countries, with 195 member countries including the European Union.
- FAO Headquarters is located in Rome, Italy.