Archive · 29 Sep 2026
UN Warns Forest Restoration Window Is Narrowing Amid Climate Threats
A United Nations report says the world is running out of time to repair damaged forests.
Forests help provide food, support jobs and protect animals and plants.
They also store carbon and help regulate rainfall.
Since 1990, more than 489 million hectares of forest have been cleared.
Fires, insects, diseases, extreme weather and human activities are putting more forests at risk.
Countries have promised to restore more than 1 billion hectares of land, but only about one-fifth is currently being restored.
The report says restoration can help people, food supplies and economies.
Restoring 1 billion hectares could provide about $1.8 trillion in benefits each year.
The Food and Agriculture Organization is urging governments to make forest restoration a national priority.
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization says the opportunity to restore forests is shrinking as climate threats intensify.
More than 489 million hectares of forest have been cleared since 1990, with an even larger area degraded.
Although initiatives have pledged to restore over 1 billion hectares, only about one-fifth is currently being restored.
Forests cover 4.14 billion hectares, store 714 gigatonnes of carbon and support up to 80% of terrestrial biodiversity.
Restoring 1 billion hectares could generate an estimated $1.8 trillion in benefits annually, according to the report.
- Who
- The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and its Director-General, Qu Dongyu, issued the warning.
- What
- A report warns that the window to restore forests is narrowing and urges governments to expand effective restoration efforts.
- When
- The report assesses forest loss and restoration progress since 1990 and over the past two decades.
- Where
- Worldwide.
- Why
- Forest restoration is needed to protect food security, livelihoods, biodiversity, climate resilience and forest-based economies.
- Forest cleared since 1990
- More than 489 million hectares
- Forests worldwide
- 4.14 billion hectares, about one-third of Earth's land surface
- Carbon stored by forests
- 714 gigatonnes
- People depending on forests
- Nearly one-third of the global population depends on forests for livelihoods
- Annual forest area affected by fires
- Around 127 million hectares
- Restoration pledged
- More than 1 billion hectares
- Estimated annual benefit
- Restoring 1 billion hectares could generate $1.8 trillion annually