dashboard.forestdeclaration.org

United States

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.  

It is important to track progress towards ending commodity-driven deforestation through shifting to sustainable commodity production, especially in light of the GLD commitment to stop forest loss and land degradation by 2030, and the private sector goal to eliminate deforestation and ecosystem conversion within supply chains by 2025.  
Commodity-driven deforestation is defined as permanent tree cover loss due to the production of agriculture, mining, and energy infrastructure. It is measured using estimates both including and excluding fire-related losses. In 2022, 4.2 to 4.8 million hectares (Mha) of forests were destroyed permanently to make room for commodity production, mostly agriculture. This is an increase of 5.6 to 7.7% compared to 2021. The estimate that includes fire-related loss (4.8 Mha) is a slight decrease compared to a 2018 to 2020 baseline; on the other hand, if fire-related losses are excluded (4.2 Mha), then the 2022 value was 7.7% higher than the average loss in 2018 to 2020. Recent deforestation rates indicate that the world is not likely to eliminate commodity-driven deforestation by 2025 or 2030. 

It is important to track progress towards ending commodity-driven deforestation through shifting to sustainable commodity production, especially in light of the GLD commitment to stop forest loss and land degradation by 2030, and the private sector goal to eliminate deforestation and ecosystem conversion within supply chains by 2025.  
Commodity-driven deforestation is defined as permanent tree cover loss due to the production of agriculture, mining, and energy infrastructure. It is measured using estimates both including and excluding fire-related losses. In 2022, 4.2 to 4.8 million hectares (Mha) of forests were destroyed permanently to make room for commodity production, mostly agriculture. This is an increase of 5.6 to 7.7% compared to 2021. The estimate that includes fire-related loss (4.8 Mha) is a slight decrease compared to a 2018 to 2020 baseline; on the other hand, if fire-related losses are excluded (4.2 Mha), then the 2022 value was 7.7% higher than the average loss in 2018 to 2020. Recent deforestation rates indicate that the world is not likely to eliminate commodity-driven deforestation by 2025 or 2030. 

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.  

<span class=”NormalTextRun SCXW253531080 BCX4″ data-ccp-charstyle=”ui-provider” data-ccp-charstyle-defn=”{“ObjectId”:”efa17122-9a5f-4259-a59b-40984941f234

<span class=”NormalTextRun SCXW253531080 BCX4″ data-ccp-charstyle=”ui-provider” data-ccp-charstyle-defn=”{“ObjectId”:”efa17122-9a5f-4259-a59b-40984941f234

Herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides are used globally to enhance crop yields and promote food security. Despite their utility, pesticides also pose risks to human health (especially to farmworkers and surrounding communities) and the environment (e.g., biodiversity loss, air and water pollution). The quantities of pesticides used per area of cropland can be used as a proxy to monitor potential overuse of pesticides. This indicator assumes that the more pesticides are used, the greater is the risk of adverse outcomes for human health and the environment. However, the indicator is unable to account for how the risk of pesticide overuse differs across the world, dependent on regional conditions (including biodiversity levels and water scarcity), the compartment of the environment that is affected (e.g., air, soil, water), and the type of pesticide considered. Globally, pesticide use per area of cropland has been increasing rather than decreasing, rising 27% from 2000 to 2021. 

Herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides are used globally to enhance crop yields and promote food security. Despite their utility, pesticides also pose risks to human health (especially to farmworkers and surrounding communities) and the environment (e.g., biodiversity loss, air and water pollution). The quantities of pesticides used per area of cropland can be used as a proxy to monitor potential overuse of pesticides. This indicator assumes that the more pesticides are used, the greater is the risk of adverse outcomes for human health and the environment. However, the indicator is unable to account for how the risk of pesticide overuse differs across the world, dependent on regional conditions (including biodiversity levels and water scarcity), the compartment of the environment that is affected (e.g., air, soil, water), and the type of pesticide considered. Globally, pesticide use per area of cropland has been increasing rather than decreasing, rising 27% from 2000 to 2021.