FAO: Global Deforestation Slows Down, Forests Still Threatened

October 22, 2025 | 09:49 am

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Global Forest Resources Assessment 2025 (FRA 2025) report from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) indicates that the deforestation rate has slowed down worldwide over the past decade. This five-year report was launched at the Global Forest Observations Initiative (GFOI) Plenary held in Bali, Indonesia, on October 21, 2025.

The latest data shows that forests still cover approximately 4.14 billion hectares, or about one third of the total land area of the world. In addition to the decrease in deforestation rate, FRA 2025 brings other positive news, namely that more than half of the forest area is now under long-term management plans, with about one-fifth of them in legally designated protected areas. Almost half of the world's forests are located in tropical regions.

However, the report emphasizes that forest ecosystems still face significant pressures. The current deforestation rate, which is about 10.9 million hectares per year, is still considered high.

In its report, FAO mentions that forests play a crucial role in food security, livelihoods of local communities, and the provision of raw materials and sustainable energy. Forests also serve as the main habitat for the majority of the world's biodiversity, play a vital role in regulating global carbon and hydrological cycles, and can help reduce the risks and impacts of droughts, land degradation, soil erosion, landslides, and floods.

FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu, in the Foreword of FRA 2025, stated that FRA is the most comprehensive and transparent global assessment of forest resources and their conditions, management, and utilization, covering all thematic elements of sustainable forest management.

"The data produced serves diverse purposes, from informing the global community about the status of forests and their changes, to supporting decisions, policies, and investments related to forests and the ecosystem services they provide," Dongyu said.

FRA 2025 involves 236 countries and territories. This assessment is the result of a process carried out by each country, with officially appointed national correspondents from 197 countries and territories contributing data, and supported by over 700 experts worldwide. FRA 2025 is also compiled through close collaboration with partner organizations, making the reporting process efficient and enhancing consistency.

FAO mentions that the gathered information supports the monitoring of international commitments, including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, the Global Biodiversity Framework Kunming-Montreal, and the UN Strategic Plan for Forests 2017-2030.

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