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Conserving the world’s forests can generate multiple climate benefits by preventing the release of their large carbon stores into the atmosphere, safeguarding their ability to continue sequestering carbon, and, for tropical forests, maintaining the biophysical mechanisms that help to cool the planet. To help secure these benefits, the Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration has established the collective goal of halting forest loss—which includes reaching zero gross deforestation—by 2030.  
The world permanently lost at least 5.8 million hectares (Mha) of forests in 2022, with some estimating that the loss was even higher at 6.6 Mha. Global deforestation increased slightly compared to 2021. Should current trends continue, the world will fail to halt permanent forest loss by 2030. The annual rate of gross deforestation instead must fall by nearly 1 Mha each year throughout the rest of this decade to deliver on the GLD’s goal.

 

Deforestation and the trajectory to the 2030 goal (with and without areas of tree cover loss cleared by fires)

Why do we provide two estimates of deforestation?

Deforestation is defined as the permanent conversion of natural forest cover to new, non-forest land uses. Different global data and methods can be used to approximate deforestation, though none perfectly captures trends in permanent forest loss.

Here, we provide two estimates resulting from two different methodologies. Both use a combination of datasets available on Global Forest Watch and estimate deforestation as the areas of tree cover loss where the dominant driver is the production of commodities (namely large-scale agriculture and pastures, and mining), urbanization, or the expansion of shifting agriculture in humid tropical primary forests.

However, the two methodologies treat the presence of fires differently. Tree cover loss from fire includes both natural and human-ignited fires where fire was the direct cause of loss (e.g., does not include burning of felled trees), and can be temporary in nature or lead to permanent land use change.

To illustrate this point, one methodology—described in the State of Climate Action 2023—excludes all tree cover loss due to fire that occurs within the areas described above, while the other methodology—described in the 2023 Forest Declaration Assessment—does not.

While neither of the resulting estimates can be considered perfectly accurate, each serves as an effort to present a realistic depiction of global deforestation trends.

 

Deforestation (including areas of tree cover loss cleared by fires)

When including areas of tree cover loss cleared by fires, the Forest Declaration Assessment finds that deforestation occurred across 6.6 Mha worldwide in 2022. This represents a 4% increase compared to 2021.

 

Deforestation (excluding areas of tree cover loss cleared by fires)

When excluding areas of tree cover loss cleared by fires, the State of Climate Action 2023 finds that 5.8 Mha of deforestation occurred globally in 2022—a 7% increase relative to 2021.

Conserving the world’s forests can generate multiple climate benefits by preventing the release of their large carbon stores into the atmosphere, safeguarding their ability to continue sequestering carbon, and, for tropical forests, maintaining the biophysical mechanisms that help to cool the planet. To help secure these benefits, the Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration has established the collective goal of halting forest loss—which includes reaching zero gross deforestation—by 2030.  
The world permanently lost at least 5.8 million hectares (Mha) of forests in 2022, with some estimating that the loss was even higher at 6.6 Mha. Global deforestation increased slightly compared to 2021. Should current trends continue, the world will fail to halt permanent forest loss by 2030. The annual rate of gross deforestation instead must fall by nearly 1 Mha each year throughout the rest of this decade to deliver on the GLD’s goal.

 

Deforestation and the trajectory to the 2030 goal (with and without areas of tree cover loss cleared by fires)

Why do we provide two estimates of deforestation?

Deforestation is defined as the permanent conversion of natural forest cover to new, non-forest land uses. Different global data and methods can be used to approximate deforestation, though none perfectly captures trends in permanent forest loss.

Here, we provide two estimates resulting from two different methodologies. Both use a combination of datasets available on Global Forest Watch and estimate deforestation as the areas of tree cover loss where the dominant driver is the production of commodities (namely large-scale agriculture and pastures, and mining), urbanization, or the expansion of shifting agriculture in humid tropical primary forests.

However, the two methodologies treat the presence of fires differently. Tree cover loss from fire includes both natural and human-ignited fires where fire was the direct cause of loss (e.g., does not include burning of felled trees), and can be temporary in nature or lead to permanent land use change.

To illustrate this point, one methodology—described in the State of Climate Action 2023—excludes all tree cover loss due to fire that occurs within the areas described above, while the other methodology—described in the 2023 Forest Declaration Assessment—does not.

While neither of the resulting estimates can be considered perfectly accurate, each serves as an effort to present a realistic depiction of global deforestation trends.

 

Deforestation (including areas of tree cover loss cleared by fires)

When including areas of tree cover loss cleared by fires, the Forest Declaration Assessment finds that deforestation occurred across 6.6 Mha worldwide in 2022. This represents a 4% increase compared to 2021.

 

Deforestation (excluding areas of tree cover loss cleared by fires)

When excluding areas of tree cover loss cleared by fires, the State of Climate Action 2023 finds that 5.8 Mha of deforestation occurred globally in 2022—a 7% increase relative to 2021.

Forest cover loss in key biodiversity areas is particularly concerning, as these areas play an outsized role in conserving biodiversity, due to, for example, being ecologically intact, or hosting species that live in just a few geographies. But in 2022, the world’s forested key biodiversity areas lost 1.2 million hectares (Mha) of forests. The good news is that this is a 30% decrease in forest loss relative to the annual average from 2018 to 2020, indicating that the world is making strides forward in eliminating tree cover loss in these critical biodiversity sites. The bad news is that even small amounts of loss within these key biodiversity areas can significantly harm biodiversity.  

Forest cover loss in key biodiversity areas is particularly concerning, as these areas play an outsized role in conserving biodiversity, due to, for example, being ecologically intact, or hosting species that live in just a few geographies. But in 2022, the world’s forested key biodiversity areas lost 1.2 million hectares (Mha) of forests. The good news is that this is a 30% decrease in forest loss relative to the annual average from 2018 to 2020, indicating that the world is making strides forward in eliminating tree cover loss in these critical biodiversity sites. The bad news is that even small amounts of loss within these key biodiversity areas can significantly harm biodiversity.  

Even if peatland degradation ended today, degraded peatlands could continue emitting roughly 1.9 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (GtCO2e) per year for decades to centuries, because, unlike forests, peatlands store carbon primarily within their waterlogged soils rather than in aboveground vegetation. Carbon and nitrogen losses following land-use changes are not immediate and continue until the soil is rewetted or all peat is lost. The efficacy of restoring peatlands to avoid these greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, however, will depend in part on what form of degradation the wetland ecosystems experienced (e.g., drainage, burning, or cutting). Rewetting peatlands drained by agriculture, for example, can significantly reduce or even halt carbon losses, as well as enable carbon sequestration. Because drained peatlands will emit carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide for up to hundreds of years, restoring these ecosystems’ water tables should occur as quickly as possible to maximize avoided GHG emissions.  
Although data is insufficient to assess global progress made in restoring peatlands, available evidence suggests that current efforts are occurring, but likely not at the pace and scale required across many countries. From 2010 to 2013, for example, the Russian government implemented one of the largest-scale peatland rewetting projects in the Northern Hemisphere across more than 73,000 hectares (ha) near Moscow; during the early 2000s, Germany rewetted more than 20,000 ha of peatlands in one of its northeastern states; and Indonesia reported that it restored just over 300,000 ha in 2021 and more than 240,000 ha in 2022. 

Even if peatland degradation ended today, degraded peatlands could continue emitting roughly 1.9 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (GtCO2e) per year for decades to centuries, because, unlike forests, peatlands store carbon primarily within their waterlogged soils rather than in aboveground vegetation. Carbon and nitrogen losses following land-use changes are not immediate and continue until the soil is rewetted or all peat is lost. The efficacy of restoring peatlands to avoid these greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, however, will depend in part on what form of degradation the wetland ecosystems experienced (e.g., drainage, burning, or cutting). Rewetting peatlands drained by agriculture, for example, can significantly reduce or even halt carbon losses, as well as enable carbon sequestration. Because drained peatlands will emit carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide for up to hundreds of years, restoring these ecosystems’ water tables should occur as quickly as possible to maximize avoided GHG emissions.  
Although data is insufficient to assess global progress made in restoring peatlands, available evidence suggests that current efforts are occurring, but likely not at the pace and scale required across many countries. From 2010 to 2013, for example, the Russian government implemented one of the largest-scale peatland rewetting projects in the Northern Hemisphere across more than 73,000 hectares (ha) near Moscow; during the early 2000s, Germany rewetted more than 20,000 ha of peatlands in one of its northeastern states; and Indonesia reported that it restored just over 300,000 ha in 2021 and more than 240,000 ha in 2022. 

Although most tropical primary forest loss occurs in just a handful of tropical forested countries, much of this loss is driven by the production of agricultural commodities for international trade, including beef, soy, palm oil, and cocoa; and products made with these commodities such as leather and chocolate. Demand from wealthier countries, in particular, drives much of this unsustainable production. In 2017, for example, almost 1.3 million hectares (Mha) of deforestation were embodied in internationally traded commodities. The countries with the highest levels of imported deforestation that year were China, India, and the United States, responsible for importing a collective 0.49 Mha of embodied deforestation. 

Although most tropical primary forest loss occurs in just a handful of tropical forested countries, much of this loss is driven by the production of agricultural commodities for international trade, including beef, soy, palm oil, and cocoa; and products made with these commodities such as leather and chocolate. Demand from wealthier countries, in particular, drives much of this unsustainable production. In 2017, for example, almost 1.3 million hectares (Mha) of deforestation were embodied in internationally traded commodities. The countries with the highest levels of imported deforestation that year were China, India, and the United States, responsible for importing a collective 0.49 Mha of embodied deforestation. 

Policies and programs to make agricultural production more sustainable must be paired with broader interventions to alleviate hunger and food insecurity, working towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 2.1 to ensure all people have access to safe, nutritious, and sufficient food all year round by 2030. Unfortunately, since the development of the Sustainable Development Goals in 2015, the prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity has been moving in the wrong direction. As of 2022, 2.4 billion people (30% of the global population) were moderately or severely food insecure. This number has remained steady since 2020, after increasing significantly between 2019 and 2020 at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Policies and programs to make agricultural production more sustainable must be paired with broader interventions to alleviate hunger and food insecurity, working towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 2.1 to ensure all people have access to safe, nutritious, and sufficient food all year round by 2030. Unfortunately, since the development of the Sustainable Development Goals in 2015, the prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity has been moving in the wrong direction. As of 2022, 2.4 billion people (30% of the global population) were moderately or severely food insecure. This number has remained steady since 2020, after increasing significantly between 2019 and 2020 at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.