By the time we find out about deforestation, it’s usually too late to take action.
Forests play a central role as the world confronts the challenges of climate change, food shortages, and improved livelihoods for a growing population. Forests absorb about 15 per cent of the planet’s greenhouse gas emissions.
Data from a recent report by the World Bank has revealed that though the pace of deforestation has slowed globally since the 1990s, it remains high with annual deforestation of about 13 million hectares (gross).
By contrast, only 0.8 million km2 have regrown, been planted, or restored during the same period. This is only partially offset by reforestation, making the total annual net forest cover loss 5.6 million hectares—an area larger than Costa Rica. Check out this interactive map to see how much forest cover still remains in the world. You can also check how the world is performing on other indicators like economic growth, education and agriculture. Select different parameters from the left panel to see bubbles on the map representing how good or bad is the state in a country or region. Based on data published in World Development Indicators 2014