10 million hector forest loss every year. Forest cover is shrinking by 420 million ha in the last 30 years. Primary forests have decreased by an estimated 47 million ha globally since 2000. FAO published the State of the world’s forest 2022 report.
by Sampad Mohapatra 
Forest Cover is shrinking fast
Forest covers 4.06 billion ha (31% of the world’s land surface), but this area is decreasing, particularly in the tropics. The forest is shrinking by 420 million ha in the last 30 years, between 1990 and 2020. The rate of deforestation is 10 million ha per year from in 2015–2020.
The burden on Primary forests
Primary forests have decreased by an estimated 47 million ha globally since 2000. Combined, three countries – Brazil, Canada, and the Russian Federation – host more than half (61%) of the world’s primary forests. Canada and the Russian Federation reported very low or no deforestation between 1990 and 2020; despite an overall reduction in deforestation. However, Brazil has experienced substantial forest loss since 1990, including primary Forests.
Planted forests increased by 1%
Planted forests cover 294 million ha (7 % of the global forest area), increasing by a rate of just under 1% per year in 2015–2020, down from 1.4% per year in 2010–2015. The area of other wooded land fell by nearly 1% between 2000 and 2020, but the area of other land comprising tree orchards, palms, and agroforestry landscapes, increased by more than one-third between 1990 and 20 20. There is at least 45 million ha of agroforestry land, with an increasing trend.
Forest and Ecosystem
Forests provide habitat for 80% of amphibian species, 75% of bird species, and 68% of mammal species. Tropical forests contain about 60% of all vascular plant species. More than 700 million ha of forest (18% of the total forest area) is in legally established protected areas. Nevertheless, forest biodiversity remains under threat from deforestation and forest degradation.
1/3rd of global forest loss due to fire
Forest fires (90% of which are due to humans) have negative impacts on ecosystems. Fire affected approximately 98 million ha of forest globally in 2015 and damaged about 4% of the tropical forest area. Recent research shows that 29–37% of global forest loss in 2003–2018 was fire-related. Worst fire season in history in 2019–2020, with an estimated 10.2 million ha burnt, including 8.19 million ha of native forest.
90% deforestation between 2000-2018
Nearly one-third of the planet’s land area was transformed in the last 60 years, Nearly 90 percent of deforestation between 2000 and 2018 was related to agriculture. FAO’s remote sensing survey found that as much as 7 percent of global deforestation between 2000 and 2018 was due to oil-palm plantations alone.
Deforestation heightened the risk of disease
Both deforestation and reforestation are correlated with a heightened risk of disease emergence globally. Notably, hotspots of concern are tropical forest regions experiencing rapid land-use change and population growth and where mammalian biodiversity is high
