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UN SDG 13 · Topic 1 of 4

The World's Forests
Are Disappearing.

Every minute, forests the size of 40 football fields are destroyed. Deforestation is one of the most devastating drivers of climate change, biodiversity loss, and human suffering on Earth.

15B

Trees lost per year

46%

Forests gone since 1900

10%

of global CO₂ emissions

Deforested land in the Amazon Basin, Brazil — once dense tropical rainforest.

What is Deforestation?

Losing the Lungs of the Earth

Deforestation is the large-scale removal of forests, converting them into non-forest uses such as agriculture, cattle ranching, logging, and urban development. Forests cover about 31% of Earth's land surface — yet they are disappearing at an alarming rate.

Tropical rainforests alone are home to over 50% of the world's plant and animal species. They absorb vast amounts of CO₂, regulate rainfall, maintain watersheds, and support the livelihoods of over 1.6 billion people.

Key Fact

The Amazon Rainforest — often called the "lungs of the Earth" — produces 20% of the world's oxygen and stores an estimated 150–200 billion tonnes of carbon. Losing it would be catastrophic for global climate stability.

Root Causes

Why Are Forests Being Destroyed?

Deforestation is driven by a complex mix of economic pressures, policy failures, and population growth. Understanding the causes is essential to addressing them.

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Agricultural Expansion

Cattle ranching and soy farming account for over 70% of deforestation in the Amazon. As global demand for beef and animal feed grows, forests are cleared to create pastureland and cropland.

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Commercial Logging

Legal and illegal logging for timber and paper products strips forests at a massive scale. Selective logging also damages surrounding trees and opens forests to further encroachment.

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Palm Oil Plantations

Southeast Asian forests, especially in Indonesia and Malaysia, are razed for palm oil — an ingredient in half of all supermarket products. This destroys critical orangutan and tiger habitat.

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Infrastructure & Mining

Roads, dams, mines, and oil pipelines penetrate deep into forests, fragmenting ecosystems and opening previously inaccessible areas to further settlement and clearing.

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Wildfires

Many fires are deliberately set to clear land cheaply. Climate change then makes forests more vulnerable to uncontrolled fires, creating a destructive feedback loop.

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Subsistence Farming

Millions of smallholder farmers clear small plots for food, often with no other options. Poverty and land insecurity drive forest loss at a local but significant cumulative scale.

By The Numbers

The Scale of Destruction

The data tells a sobering story. These are not projections — they are measured realities from satellite monitoring, scientific research, and international bodies.

Hectares of forest lost
every year globally

80%

of Earth's terrestrial
biodiversity in forests

1.6B

People who depend on
forests for their livelihood

2050

Year all rainforests may
be gone at current rates

Cascading Effects

How Deforestation Harms Everyone

Climate Disruption

Trees store carbon. When cut and burned, they release it. Deforestation accounts for up to 10% of global carbon emissions, accelerating warming and intensifying extreme weather.

Biodiversity Collapse

Forest destruction is the leading cause of species extinction. Scientists estimate we are losing 135 plant, animal, and insect species every day due to habitat loss.

Disrupted Water Cycles

Forests regulate rainfall through transpiration. Their removal causes droughts, floods, and the drying of rivers — affecting agriculture and drinking water for hundreds of millions.

Soil Erosion & Desertification

Without tree roots to hold soil, erosion accelerates. Topsoil is lost, land becomes infertile, and in severe cases barren desert expands where forest once thrived.

Forest Cover Loss by Region

South America (Amazon)38%

Sub-Saharan Africa24%

Southeast Asia18%

Central America12%

South Asia8%

Taking Action

There is Still Time to Act

Deforestation is not inevitable. Around the world, communities, governments, and organisations are finding ways to protect and restore forests. Here's what works.

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Protected Areas & Indigenous Rights

The most effective forests are those managed by Indigenous peoples. Recognising indigenous land rights and expanding protected area networks dramatically reduces deforestation rates.

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Reforestation & Afforestation

Programmes like the Bonn Challenge aim to restore 350 million hectares by 2030. Planting native species, not monocultures, is essential for restoring biodiversity and ecosystem function.

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Sustainable Supply Chains

Consumer pressure and corporate commitments to zero-deforestation sourcing of soy, beef, palm oil, and timber can radically reduce forest loss tied to global supply chains.

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Satellite Monitoring & Enforcement

Near real-time satellite systems like Global Forest Watch allow governments and NGOs to detect illegal clearing within days, enabling faster enforcement action.

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REDD+ Carbon Finance

The UN's REDD+ mechanism pays developing countries to protect forests by placing economic value on standing trees as carbon sinks — making conservation financially competitive.

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Sustainable Agriculture

Agroforestry, regenerative farming, and improved yields on existing farmland can meet food demand without converting forests — if supported by policy and investment.

The World's ForestsAre Disappearing.