Ankara: As global warming and industrialization continue to pose significant threats to forests worldwide, Trkiye has emerged as a leader in forest conservation, ranking fourth globally and first in Europe for increasing its forested areas over the last decade.
According to Anadolu Agency, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Global Forest Resources Assessment data reveals that Trkiye has managed to increase its forested areas by 118,000 hectares annually, marking a 0.53% annual growth. This achievement places Trkiye among the top countries globally that have successfully expanded their forest cover, following China, Russia, and India.
Globally, forests cover approximately 4.14 billion hectares, constituting 32% of the total land area. The FAO data highlights that while tropical regions account for 45% of these forests, European countries collectively cover 25% of the global forested area. However, South America continues to maintain the highest forest density on land.
Despite these positive developments in some regions, the report indicates a concerning trend of deforestation. From 1990-2000, the annual net loss of forested areas worldwide was 10.7 million hectares, which decreased to 4.12 million hectares in the period from 2015 to 2025. Nonetheless, the expansion rate of forest areas has also declined, dropping from an annual average of 9.88 million hectares during 2000-2015 to 6.78 million hectares in 2015-2025.
China leads the global effort in forest area increase, with an annual growth of 1.6 million hectares over the past decade. Russia follows with an increase of 942,000 hectares, and India with 191,000 hectares. In Europe, Trkiye's efforts are unmatched, with France and Australia trailing behind.
Conversely, the report underscores significant forest losses in countries like Brazil, which faced an average annual loss of 2.9 million hectares between 2015-2025. Angola, Tanzania, Myanmar, Congo, Mozambique, and several other countries also reported substantial deforestation rates. South America and Africa, along with Cambodia, are highlighted as the regions with the most significant forest area reductions over the past decade.
The FAO report points out that wildfires remain the most critical threat to forested areas, affecting an average of 130 million hectares per year between 2007-2019. In 2020 alone, forests were significantly impacted by insects, diseases, and severe weather events, affecting 41 million hectares globally.
Currently, 813 million hectares of forests worldwide are legally protected, representing about 20% of the total forest area, according to the report.