The Forest Declaration Assessment report serves as both a critical reminder and a call to action for governments, businesses, and civil society to renew their commitment to forest conservation in the face of escalating environmental challenges.
In 2023, 6.37 million hectares of forest were destroyed, according to a report by the Forest Declaration Assessment. The authors of the report point out that to stay on track for eliminating deforestation by 2030, this figure should not exceed 4.4 million hectares.
The new report from the Forest Declaration Assessment reveals a concerning stagnation in global efforts to halt deforestation, despite ambitious commitments made by world leaders. The report, released on Tuesday, underscores the critical state of the planet’s forests and calls for immediate action to reverse trends threatening biodiversity and climate stability.
This global loss of forests equals about a fiftieth of the size of India’s landmass. The reasons for the loss in forests extends from the destruction of trees for agriculture, road construction, mining and commercial logging, the report said. Much of the forests was also lost to forest fires
From 2001-23, more than 138 million hectares of tree cover were lost globally due to forest fires, the study says, adding, for detail, how nearly one third of the area lost to forest fires since 2001 was burned from 2019-23. “In those four years, nearly 13 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent was released into the atmosphere due to forest fires.” For perspective, that’s nearly double the emissions of the Indian energy sector over the same period.
A Wake-Up Call for Policymakers
The report highlights that, while some countries have made progress in forest conservation, overall global deforestation rates remain alarmingly high. Key findings indicate that land use change, driven primarily by agriculture, continues to be a major driver of forest loss. In particular, tropical regions are experiencing the most significant declines, with local communities and indigenous peoples often bearing the brunt of environmental degradation.
“Despite commitments made in the Forest Declaration, we are not seeing the transformative changes needed,” said Dr. Emily Carter, lead author of the report. “This assessment serves as a wake-up call for policymakers to prioritize forest protection and restoration as integral components of their climate strategies.”
The report also outlines a series of recommendations, urging governments to strengthen policies that protect forests, enhance accountability, and promote sustainable land-use practices. It emphasizes the importance of financing initiatives that support both conservation and the livelihoods of those who depend on forest ecosystems.
A Call to Action
In light of the findings, the assessment calls for renewed international cooperation, with an emphasis on collaborative efforts to tackle deforestation at the source. As the world grapples with the impacts of climate change, the report argues that safeguarding forests is not just an environmental issue, but a vital part of ensuring global food security and promoting economic resilience.
“Restoring and protecting forests must be at the forefront of our global response to the climate crisis,” Dr. Carter added. “The time for action is now; we must not let this opportunity slip away.”
Deforestation continues to be a major contributor of greenhouse gases, the report says. “Not accounting for removals, 3.8 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide-equivalent were emitted from deforestation last year,” it says – this is a four per cent increase from the 2018-20 baseline.
“If deforestation was its own country, it would have been the fourth-highest emitter in 2023 after China, the U.S., and India,” says the report, adding that “The world is increasingly off track to meet the 2030 goals.” With less than six years remaining until 2030, immediate action to protect forests is essential, the report says.
The Forest Declaration Assessment report serves as both a critical reminder and a call to action for governments, businesses, and civil society to renew their commitment to forest conservation in the face of escalating environmental challenges.
