UN Warns Of 'Narrowing Window' To Restore World's Forests Amid Rising Climate Threats
The world faces a “narrowing window” to restore forests that are vital for food security and resilience against the climate emergency, a United Nations report has warned, urging governments to make forest restoration a national priority. More than 489 million hectares of forests have been cleared since 1990, while an even larger area has been degraded, according to the report by the UN Food and…
A United Nations report warns that time is running out to restore the world's forests, which are crucial for food security and climate resilience. Over 489 million hectares of forests have been destroyed since 1990, and even more have been damaged, according to the report by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). While progress has been made in protecting forests and planting trees, current efforts are falling short of commitments.
The report states that restoring just a fifth of the pledged area is happening. Forests cover 4.14 billion hectares and play a vital role in carbon storage, biodiversity, and providing livelihoods for nearly one-third of the global population. However, threats such as fires, pests, diseases, extreme weather, agriculture, climate change, pollution, and resource extraction are intensifying.
Restoring forests could bring economic benefits, with restoration of 1 billion hectares estimated to provide $1.8 trillion in annual benefits. FAO Director General Qu Dongyu emphasized that forest restoration is not only an environmental priority but also a strategic investment in resilient food systems and rural development. The window for action is rapidly closing, and poorly planned restoration could exacerbate inequalities and lock landscapes into unsustainable paths.
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