The reduction over the last decade included the loss of 16 million hectares of primary forests, those with no evident trace of human activity and which are of enormous importance for biodiversity, according to the 2026 Report on the Global Forest Goals, released this Monday during the United Nations Forum on Forests taking place in New York.
The study, which evaluates the implementation of the six Global Forest Goals and 26 associated targets, points to three key messages: progress is evident but insufficient; forests are fundamental for sustainable development; and experience shows that progress is possible through innovation, investment, and cooperation.
The analyses conducted mention seven targets already met, 17 partially achieved, and two clearly off track, which are the increase in forest area (the target is 3%) and the eradication of extreme poverty among people who depend on forests, a category where sub-Saharan Africa is of particular concern.
Agriculture is the main source of deforestation
Prepared with voluntary reports submitted by 48 countries (including Spain) and data from international organizations such as FAO, the most positive advances mentioned in the document relate to areas such as protected forests, sustainable forest management, and international cooperation.
The area of protected forest has grown to nearly 20%, although the rate of expansion decreased from an average of 10 million hectares per year in 2000-2015 to 4 million hectares in 2015-2025.
The report identifies "persistent challenges" such as ongoing forest loss and degradation, climate-related pressures, and funding shortfalls.
It is estimated that global financing for sustainable forest management, $84 billion according to 2023 data, "remains well below the required level of $300 billion annually by 2030."
Around 90% of current financing comes from national public funds and less than 4% from development aid. Private sector participation is limited, the document emphasizes.
Recommendations
The Secretariat of the United Nations Forum on Forests proposes among priority action areas: halting deforestation and reversing forest loss, promoting access to markets and technical training for people who depend on forests for their livelihoods, closing the financing gap for sustainable forest management, strengthening forest governance, and improving cross-sectoral partnerships.
It also recommends strengthening the fight against illegal logging and associated trade.
The report includes various examples of good practices, such as the increase in forest area subject to long-term sustainable management plans in Brazil, which has allowed the production of over 2.15 million cubic meters of wood with guaranteed origin and full traceability; or the creation in 2021 in China of its first five national parks, covering 230,000 km2.
Forests cover 32% of the Earth's land surface, about 4.14 billion hectares. Five countries hold 54% of these forests: Russia (20%), Brazil (12%), Canada (9%), the United States (7%), and China (5%).
The planet's forest mass stores 172 tons of carbon per hectare and hosts 80% of amphibian species, 75% of bird species, and 68% of mammal species, according to UN data.
Source:Cooperativa
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