Large-scale restoration of forests and landscapes is a cost-effective way to address food security, biodiversity and climate challenges, according to a new report released by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
Forests cover about 4.14 billion hectares, or 32 percent of the world’s land area, and store an estimated 714 gigatons of carbon. They also support food security and livelihoods for nearly one-third of the global population, according to the report.
However, about 489 million hectares of forest were lost to deforestation between 1990 and 2025, while more than 460 million hectares of forests are degraded worldwide. An estimated 1.56 billion hectares of land are degraded, driven by population growth, land-use change and growing demand for natural resources.
The report estimated that failing to restore degraded ecosystems costs the global economy between 878 billion U.S. dollars and 6.3 trillion dollars annually. By contrast, restoring more than 1 billion hectares of degraded land could generate 1.8 trillion dollars in annual benefits through improved biodiversity, water regulation and soil health.
The report identified four priorities for expanding restoration: strengthening people’s rights and participation, adopting landscape-scale approaches, mobilizing long-term financing, and improving policies, laws and institutions.
Governments in 91 countries and areas have pledged more than 190 million hectares for forest restoration, the report said.