FAO State of the World’s Forests 2026: Growing Gap Between Degradation and Restoration

Why in News?

• The FAO’s State of the World’s Forests 2026 report has highlighted the growing gap between forest degradation and restoration worldwide. 
• More than 460 million hectares (mha) of forests are estimated to be degraded. 
• As per the report, Land degradation means a persistent decline in the goods and services provided by ecosystems, including biological, water-related, social and economic benefits.
• Major drivers include climate change, population growth, urbanisation, infrastructure development, land-use change and rising resource demand. 

Key Findings

• Global forest cover stood at around 4.14 billion hectares in 2025, covering nearly 32% of the world’s land area. 
• Around 489 mha of forests were lost to deforestation between 1990 and 2025. 
• Naturally regenerating forests, which account for about 92% of global forests, declined by 324 mha during the same period. 
• Primary forests, which are particularly important for biodiversity, declined by about 110 mha. 

Restoration Gap

• The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) aims to ensure that at least 30% of degraded ecosystems are under effective restoration by 2030. 
• Nearly 469 mha would need effective restoration to meet this target. 
• However, national reports indicate that only about 206.5 mha were under restoration as of 2026, showing a substantial implementation gap. 

Regional Picture

• Africa: Around 334 mha, or 12% of its land area, was classified as degraded in 2019. 
• Asia: Nearly 583 mha, or 19% of its land area, was degraded. 
• South America: About 245 mha, or 14% of its land area, was classified as degraded. 

Why Does It Matter?

• Forest degradation reduces biodiversity, carbon storage, ecosystem productivity and essential ecosystem services. 
• The global rate of net forest loss fell from 10.7 mha annually during 1990–2000 to 3.68 mha during 2000–2015, but increased to 4.12 mha annually during 2015–2025. 
• The FAO calls for coordinated restoration programmes supported by better knowledge, clear standards, adequate capacity, monitoring and adaptive learning. 

About Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF):

• Adoption: Adopted at COP15 of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in December 2022 after four years of negotiations. 
• Purpose: A global biodiversity action plan adopted by 196 Parties to halt and reverse biodiversity loss and achieve a world living in harmony with nature by 2050. 
• Structure: 
  • 4 global goals for 2050 
  • 23 targets for 2030 
• Legal Status: The GBF is not a legally binding international treaty. Countries committed to developing their own national targets for implementation. 
• Key Areas: Reducing threats to biodiversity, sustainable use of biodiversity, fair benefit-sharing, financing, technology transfer and capacity building. 
• Target 2: It aims to restore at least 30% of degraded terrestrial, inland water, coastal and marine ecosystems by 2030.
• Target 3: “30 by 30”: Calls for conserving at least 30% of the world’s terrestrial, inland water and marine areas by 2030 through effectively managed and equitably governed systems of protected and conserved areas. 
• Target 19: Finance: Seeks to mobilise at least US$200 billion annually by 2030 from public, private, domestic and international sources, including at least US$30 billion annually in international biodiversity finance for developing countries. 
• Cali Fund: Established to support fair benefit-sharing from the commercial use of Digital Sequence Information (DSI) on genetic resources. At least half of its resources are intended for Indigenous Peoples and local communities. 
• Implementation: Supported by a monitoring framework, national targets, financial mechanisms, capacity building and scientific and technical cooperation. 
• Major Concern: Conservation targets such as 30 by 30 can create conflicts if protected areas are established without recognising the land, livelihood and participation rights of Indigenous Peoples and local communities (IPLCs). 
• Way Forward: Biodiversity conservation should combine ecological protection with community participation, equitable benefit-sharing, secure land rights and sustainable livelihoods.

About Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO):

• FAO was established on 16 October 1945 in Quebec City, Canada, after World War II to tackle food shortages and hunger. 
• Headquarters: Rome, Italy. 
• Membership: 195 members i.e 194 countries and the European Union. 
• Core Mission: To achieve food security for all by ensuring regular access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food. 

Key Objectives

• End hunger and malnutrition: Supports countries in improving food production, availability and nutrition. 
• Increase agricultural productivity: Provides technical assistance in agriculture, forestry, fisheries and livestock. 
• Improve rural livelihoods: Promotes rural development and better living standards, particularly for communities dependent on agriculture.
• Sustainable resource management: Encourages the sustainable use and conservation of land, water, forests and biodiversity. 

Structure

• FAO Conference: The supreme governing body, held every two years, with participation from all members; it determines the organisation’s broad policies. 
• FAO Council: A 49-member executive body that oversees the implementation of decisions. 
• Director-General: Heads the FAO Secretariat; Qu Dongyu is the current Director-General. 
• Global Presence: FAO operates through field offices in more than 130 countries, providing technical assistance and supporting agricultural and food-security programmes.

Practice Question

Q. With reference to forest degradation, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), consider the following statements:

1. The global rate of net forest loss increased from 3.68 million hectares annually during 2000–2015 to 4.12 million hectares annually during 2015–2025. 
2. Under GBF Target 3, at least 30% of degraded terrestrial, inland water, coastal and marine ecosystems are to be restored by 2030, while Target 2 focuses on conserving 30% of such areas. 
3. The FAO Council is the supreme governing body of FAO, while the biennial FAO Conference functions as its executive body. 
4. The Cali Fund promotes fair benefit-sharing from the commercial use of Digital Sequence Information on genetic resources, with at least half of its resources intended for Indigenous Peoples and local communities. 

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 3 only
(b) 1, 2 and 4 only
(c) 2, 3 and 4 only
(d) 1 and 4 only

Answer: (d) 1 and 4 only

Explanation

• The annual rate of net forest loss increased from 3.68 million hectares during 2000–2015 to 4.12 million hectares during 2015–2025. Hence, Statement 1 is correct. 
• GBF Target 2 deals with restoring at least 30% of degraded ecosystems by 2030, while Target 3 is the “30 by 30” conservation target. Hence, Statement 2 is incorrect. 
• The FAO Conference is the supreme governing body, while the 49-member FAO Council functions as the executive body. Hence, Statement 3 is incorrect. 
• The Cali Fund aims to ensure fair benefit-sharing from the commercial use of Digital Sequence Information on genetic resources, with at least half of its resources intended for Indigenous Peoples and local communities. Hence, Statement 4 is correct.