State of the World’s Forests 2026

Why in News?

The FAO’s State of the World’s Forests 2026 report highlighted the growing problem of land and forest degradation.

About the Report

• Published by – Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
• Titled – “Restoring Forests and Landscapes: The Way Forward for a Sustainable Future.”
• It assesses the global status of forests, land degradation and restoration efforts.

Major Findings

• Global forest area in 2025 was about 4.14 billion hectares, or 32% of the world’s land area.
• Around 489 million hectares of forest have been lost due to deforestation since 1990.
• Primary forests declined by about 110 million hectares between 1990 and 2025.
• Naturally regenerating forests declined by 324 million hectares during the same period.
• Asia had about 583 million hectares of degraded land, followed by Africa and South America.
• Causes of Degradation –
  • Major causes include climate change, deforestation, agricultural expansion, urbanisation and infrastructure development.
  • Wildfires, soil erosion, overgrazing and unsustainable forest use also contribute to degradation.
• Forest and Landscape Restoration (FLR) – FLR aims to restore the ecological, economic and social functions of degraded landscapes.
  • 93 countries and areas were identified as requiring restoration.
• Global Target – KMGBF Target 2 aims to place 30% of degraded ecosystems under effective restoration by 2030.
  • About 469 million hectares need restoration to meet this target.

Reference

Down To Earth| FAO’s State of the World’s Forests 2026