Deforestation and forest loss

Forests are among the planet’s most valuable ecosystems they absorb carbon, protect biodiversity, and support billions of livelihoods. Yet, across the world, forests are disappearing. But not everywhere. Some countries are actually gaining forest cover, while others continue to see dramatic losses.

Before diving into the causes and consequences of deforestation, it helps to begin with a broader view: what is the net change in forest cover across the globe?

Net Forest Change: Gains vs. Losses

The net change in forest cover looks at the balance between forests lost (due to deforestation) and forests gained (through natural regeneration or tree planting efforts). It’s essentially the difference between destruction and restoration.

A global map of net forest change shows a divided picture:

• Countries shown in green are restoring forests faster than they’re losing them.
• Countries in red are seeing net forest losses, where deforestation outpaces any reforestation or afforestation efforts.

This net measure is crucial because it helps us understand overall trends, not just the extent of tree felling. Some countries, like China and parts of Europe, have expanded their forest cover in recent decades. Others, particularly in tropical regions, continue to face intense pressure from logging, agriculture, and infrastructure development.

How Much Forest Are We Really Losing Each Year?

Let’s clarify one thing: net forest loss is not the same as deforestation.

• Deforestation refers to the total area of forest that is cut down.
• Net forest change includes both losses and gains.

Between 2010 and 2020, the net global forest loss averaged 4.7 million hectares per year. That’s roughly the size of Costa Rica gone every year.

But when we look only at deforestation without factoring in regrowth the number is much higher.
According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), around 10 million hectares of forest are cleared annually. That’s the equivalent of losing 27 soccer fields of forest every minute.

Deforestation Has a Long History But It Peaked Recently

We often think of deforestation as a modern issue, but humanity has been clearing forests for thousands of years. Since the end of the last ice age, one-third of Earth’s forests have been lost about 2 billion hectares, an area twice the size of the United States.

Historically, forests were cleared for:

• Expanding agricultural land
• Grazing livestock
• Fuelwood and timber

But here’s the striking part:
Half of that forest loss occurred between 8,000 BCE and 1900.
The other half happened in just the last 100 years.

That shows just how dramatically the pace of forest loss has accelerated in recent centuries.

Zooming In: 300 Years of Forest Change

From 1700 to 2020, the world lost 1.5 billion hectares of forest 1.5 times the size of the United States.
In a chart tracing global forest changes decade by decade, you would see that deforestation peaked in the 1980s, a period marked by massive agricultural expansion, particularly in the tropics.

Here’s how we know this:

1. Historical Estimates from academic research, like Williams (2006), trace deforestation from 1700 to 1995. These early figures often rely on rough averages due to sparse data, especially before the 20th century.
2. Modern Assessments by the FAO (every five years) provide detailed, up-to-date tracking from 1990 onwards, using improved satellite monitoring and on-ground reports.

It’s important to note that these two datasets use different methodologies and can’t be seamlessly merged. For example, their deforestation estimates for the 1980s don’t perfectly align a reminder that forest data, especially from earlier periods, comes with uncertainties. Still, both data sources tell a compelling story: forest loss has been extensive, but trends are shifting.

A Turning Point?

The good news is that global deforestation peaked in the 1980s and has slowly declined since then. Efforts in many countries including forest conservation laws, restoration projects, and sustainable land use policies have begun to reverse or at least slow down the damage.

But we’re not out of the woods yet. With 10 million hectares still disappearing each year, the urgency remains.

Ending deforestation especially in biodiversity rich tropical regions is one of the most powerful actions we can take to combat climate change, protect ecosystems, and safeguard the future for generations to come.

The Way Forward

What does this all mean for the future?

• Countries with forest gains show us that recovery is possible through tree planting, natural regeneration, and strong governance.
• Countries with heavy losses highlight the urgent need for better land management, stronger legal protections, and international support.

If we are to halt deforestation and restore the Earth’s forests, action must be swift, science-based, and global. Forests are more than just trees they are climate regulators, carbon sinks, wildlife sanctuaries, and the lungs of our planet. Their fate is intertwined with ours.

source :

https://ourworldindata.org/deforestation