Skip to content

You are using an outdated browser

Internet Explorer is not supported by this site and Microsfot has stopped releasing updates, therefore you may encounter issues whilst visiting this site and we strongly recommend that you upgrade your browser for modern web functionality, a better user experience and improved security.

Upgrade my browser

8 fascinating forest facts & figures you might not know

4 min read

Sustainable Planet
Source: Pixabay

Selected statistics from United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) State of the World’s Forests report 2020.

Forests: one of nature’s great providers

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) say forests are one of nature’s great providers. A source of water and food security, they also give us everything from paper and medicine to renewable energy, low-tech air conditioning and air cleansers. They also protect and enrich biodiversity and are a major tool in the fight against climate change. Ask several people what a forest is and their answers will probably differ. This is because forests are busy and complex living worlds. 

The FAO broadly defines forests as land spanning more than half a hectare with trees higher than 5m in height, and with canopies that cover at least 10% of the land. Many different types of forests exist around the world, reflecting different climates, altitudes, and soil types. Here are 8 fascinating facts and figures on forests and trees that you might not already know:

Forests cover 31% of the global land area. Approximately half the forest area is relatively intact, and more than one-third is primary forest (i.e. naturally regenerated forests of native species, where there are no visible indications of human activities and the ecological processes are not significantly disturbed).
1. Forests cover one-third of the world’s land area and host more than half of the world’s land-based plant and animal species. Forests cover 31% of the global land area. Approximately half the forest area is relatively intact, and more than one-third is primary forest (i.e. naturally regenerated forests of native species, where there are no visible indications of human activities and the ecological processes are not significantly disturbed). Source: Unsplash/nikhita samala
As well as saving people’s lives, these medicinal plants are worth a staggering US$108 billion a year.
2. A quarter of all modern medicines come from tropical forest plants, including two-thirds of all cancer-fighting drugs. As well as saving people’s lives, these medicinal plants are worth a staggering US$108 billion a year. Source: Unsplash/Christian Hess Araya
These natural products help forest communities and millions of other people to remain healthy.
3. Forests have an abundant supply of nutritious foods, such as nuts, fruits, seeds and even insects which are rich in protein and important minerals such as calcium and iron. These natural products help forest communities and millions of other people to remain healthy. Source: Unsplash/Liam Pozz
They hold water in the soil, preventing erosion, and later release it back into the atmosphere, producing a cooling effect.
4. Trees in forests are natural aqueducts, redistributing up to 95% of the water they absorb to where it’s needed most. They hold water in the soil, preventing erosion, and later release it back into the atmosphere, producing a cooling effect. Source: Unsplash/Vlad Hilitanu
This plays a fundamental role in balancing the world’s carbon cycle and helping to combat climate change.
5. Trees are a great carbon sink, with the world’s forests removing an estimated 2.1 Gigatonnes of carbon dioxide annually – that’s 2.1 billion tonnes! This plays a fundamental role in balancing the world’s carbon cycle and helping to combat climate change. Source: Unsplash/Jan Kronies
2.4 billion people worldwide, or one in three, use woodfuel to cook meals, making wood energy a major contributor to food security and nutrition. Woodfuel provides 40 percent of today’s global renewable energy supply – as much as solar, hydroelectric and wind power combined – and demand for bioenergy is soaring.
6. Almost 900 million people, mostly in developing countries, are involved in woodfuel and charcoal production. 2.4 billion people worldwide, or one in three, use woodfuel to cook meals, making wood energy a major contributor to food security and nutrition. Woodfuel provides 40 percent of today’s global renewable energy supply – as much as solar, hydroelectric and wind power combined – and demand for bioenergy is soaring. Source: Unsplash/Boudhayan Bardhan
However, more than 20 developing countries have improved food security while maintaining or increasing forest cover. This shows that it is not necessary to cut down forests for agriculture in order to reduce hunger – quite the opposite! We need to manage forests sustainably so that they can remain healthy, provide a variety of goods and services and even support agriculture, livestock and fishery production.
7. The world is witnessing a net loss of 3.3 million hectares of forest area a year – an area the size of Moldova. However, more than 20 developing countries have improved food security while maintaining or increasing forest cover. This shows that it is not necessary to cut down forests for agriculture in order to reduce hunger – quite the opposite! We need to manage forests sustainably so that they can remain healthy, provide a variety of goods and services and even support agriculture, livestock and fishery production. Source: Unsplash/Jonathan Lampel
Around 55% or 225 million tonnes of all fibre used for paper production nowadays comes from recovered paper.
8. Sustainably managed forests provide the primary raw material for paper, which is renewable and one of the most recycled materials in the world. Around 55% or 225 million tonnes of all fibre used for paper production nowadays comes from recovered paper. Source: Unsplash/Vincent Maret
More than half of the world’s forests are found in only five countries (the Russian Federation, Brazil, Canada, the United States of America and China) and two-thirds (66%) of forests are found in ten countries.
The total forest area is 4.06 billion hectares, or approximately 5 000m2 (or 50 x 100m) per person, but forests are not equally distributed around the globe. More than half of the world’s forests are found in only five countries (the Russian Federation, Brazil, Canada, the United States of America and China) and two-thirds (66%) of forests are found in ten countries. Source: FAO
Creation of protected areas has historically been the forest governance instrument most often adopted to pursue biodiversity objectives. This approach has achieved positive results in terms of conserving species and establishing barriers to the progress of deforestation.
The good news is there are ways to manage the world’s forest ecosystems that will ensure the conservation and sustainable use of their biodiversity. Creation of protected areas has historically been the forest governance instrument most often adopted to pursue biodiversity objectives. This approach has achieved positive results in terms of conserving species and establishing barriers to the progress of deforestation. Source: Unsplash/Mackenzie Weber
Make an Impact

LIFE TERRA “LET’S PLANT TOGETHER!” 500 MILLION TREES BY 2025

Life Terra is a foundation with a mission to enable people to take impactful climate action now. Join our mission to restore lands near you. Plant trees, become a volunteer, trial our education course, organise a restoration project, offer land, or adopt a tree to compensate your carbon. Find out more.