The United Nations launched The Global Forest Goals Report 2026 during the 21st session of the UN Forum on Forests in New York, which took place from May 11 to 15, 2026. The second edition of this report highlights a persistent decline in worldwide forest resources, showing a net loss of 40 million hectares of forest cover over the past decade. This assessment serves as a critical stock-take as the international community nears the 2030 deadline for the Sustainable Development Goals.
What is the Global Forest Goals Report 2026?
The Global Forest Goals Report 2026 is the second comprehensive progress report on the implementation of the United Nations Strategic Plan for Forests 2017–2030 (UNSPF). The UNSPF was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in April 2017 under resolution 71/285 to establish a global framework for the management, conservation, and sustainable development of all types of forests. The strategic plan is structured around six Global Forest Goals and 26 target indicators aimed at halting deforestation, increasing forest area, and improving the lives of forest-dependent people by 2030.
This second edition of the report is produced by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) in collaboration with the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) Secretariat. The findings are compiled from voluntary national reports submitted by member states, combined with scientific databases and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Global Forest Resources Assessment 2025 (FRA 2025). By evaluating global progress midway through the implementation timeline, the report serves as a diagnostic tool for policymakers to identify gaps in funding, legislation, and forest management.
Key Findings on Forest Cover and Decline
The report paints a sobering picture of the state of global forests, revealing that conservation efforts have not been sufficient to halt the decline. Between 2015 and 2025, global forest cover fell from 4.18 billion hectares to 4.14 billion hectares. This represents a net loss of 40 million hectares of forest over the decade, which is equivalent to an average net annual loss of 4.12 million hectares.
While the rate of net loss has declined compared to the 1990s, when deforestation was far more rapid, the current pace of forest loss remains a significant concern. The gross rate of annual deforestation stood at 10.9 million hectares between 2015 and 2025. This shows that despite massive tree-planting campaigns and natural forest regeneration, the rate of clearing still outpaces the rate of renewal.
The following table summarizes the key forest cover statistics compiled in the report:
| Indicator or Metric | Value (2015–2025) | Description and Context |
|---|---|---|
| Global Forest Cover (2015) | 4.18 billion hectares | Covered approximately 32 percent of the world’s land area |
| Global Forest Cover (2025) | 4.14 billion hectares | Reflects a net decrease of 40 million hectares over 10 years |
| Average Net Annual Loss | 4.12 million hectares | The net balance between deforestation and forest expansion |
| Gross Annual Deforestation | 10.9 million hectares | The speed of forest clearance, down from 17.6 million hectares in the 1990s |
| Total Primary Forest Loss | 16 million hectares | Loss of undisturbed, carbon-rich forest ecosystems |
| Most Affected Region (Primary Forests) | South America | Accounted for the largest share of primary forest loss |
Primary Forest Loss and Regional Disparities
A particularly alarming finding in the report is the loss of primary forests. Between 2015 and 2025, the world lost 16 million hectares of primary forests. These are ecosystems that have remained undisturbed by human activity, making them critical sanctuaries for biodiversity and the most effective terrestrial carbon sinks on the planet. Once a primary forest is cleared, its unique ecosystem and carbon-storing capacity cannot be easily restored through commercial plantations or secondary growth.
Geographically, the loss of these primary forests is highly uneven. South America accounted for the largest share of primary forest losses recorded during the decade, largely driven by large-scale agricultural expansion, cattle ranching, and logging. Africa also recorded substantial losses of primary forests, where the drivers are more local.
The report identifies distinct global drivers behind this environmental decline. While commercial agriculture remains the leading driver of deforestation in South America, a rising demand for fuelwood and charcoal has emerged as a major cause of forest degradation in sub-Saharan Africa and parts of Asia. Climate-induced stressors such as prolonged droughts, severe wildfires, insect infestations, and diseases are rapidly degrading existing forest canopies worldwide.
The Six Global Forest Goals: A Progress Check
The heart of the United Nations Strategic Plan for Forests 2017–2030 is its set of six Global Forest Goals (GFGs). These voluntary and universal goals are designed to address the environmental, economic, and social dimensions of forest management. The 2026 report conducts a detailed progress check across the 26 targets linked to these six goals, showing that progress is highly uneven as the 2030 deadline approaches.
The six goals are:
- Reverse the loss of forest cover worldwide through sustainable forest management, protection, restoration, afforestation, and reforestation.
- Enhance forest-based economic, social, and environmental benefits, including by improving the livelihoods of forest-dependent people.
- Increase significantly the area of protected forests worldwide and other areas of sustainably managed forests, as well as the proportion of forest products from sustainably managed forests.
- Mobilize significantly increased, new, and additional financial resources from all sources for the implementation of sustainable forest management.
- Promote governance frameworks to implement sustainable forest management, including through planning, institutional coherence, and law enforcement.
- Enhance cooperation, coordination, coherence, and synergies on forest-related issues at all levels, including across sectors and organizations.
Goals that are Met, Partially Achieved, and Off Track
Out of the 26 targets established under these goals, the 2026 assessment reveals a mixed record of achievement. Seven targets have been broadly met, demonstrating substantial progress in areas such as expanding forest management plans, improving monitoring systems, and strengthening national forest legislation. Another 17 targets have been partially achieved, indicating slow but positive steps toward capacity building, scientific cooperation, and community engagement.
However, the report highlights that two critical targets are currently off track:
- Target 1.1 (Reversing Forest Loss): This target aims to increase global forest area by 3 percent (approximately 120 million hectares) by 2030 compared to 2015. Given that forest cover has instead declined by 40 million hectares during this period, the international community is moving away from this goal rather than toward it.
- Target 2.1 (Eradicating Poverty for Forest-Dependent People): This target focuses on eradicating extreme poverty for all forest-dependent people. The lack of social safety nets, coupled with forest degradation and land-tenure insecurity, has left these vulnerable populations increasingly exposed to economic hardship.
The United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) and ECOSOC
The United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) is the primary intergovernmental body responsible for global forest policy. It was established in October 2000 by the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), operating as a functional commission with universal membership. The forum is headquartered at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, and its administrative operations are managed by the UNFF Secretariat, which is housed within the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA).
The mandate of the UNFF includes promoting the management, conservation, and sustainable development of all types of forests. It also aims to strengthen long-term political commitment to forest ecosystems. The forum provides a platform for member states to share best practices, negotiate international agreements, and coordinate policies across various UN bodies.
The 21st session of the UN Forum on Forests (UNFF21), held in New York from May 11 to 15, 2026, served as a critical policy session. Delegations from around the world focused on accelerating the implementation of the UN Strategic Plan for Forests. In particular, negotiations centered on resolving policy gaps related to reversing forest cover loss, expanding protected forest areas, and securing sustainable financial resources for developing nations.
Roadblocks and The Way Forward
The Global Forest Goals Report 2026 identifies several critical challenges that hinder progress toward the 2030 targets. Chief among these is the massive funding gap. Financial resources allocated to sustainable forest management, particularly in developing countries, remain far below what is required to halt forest loss and restore degraded land. Additionally, agricultural expansion, driven by the global demand for food and biofuels, continues to convert vast forested areas into farmland. In regions such as sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, a high reliance on wood for cooking and heating drives continuous forest degradation.
To reverse these trends, the report recommends several strategic interventions. First, international financial institutions and member states must scale up public and private investment in sustainable forest management, agroforestry, and forest restoration. Second, governments should enhance policy coherence by aligning agricultural subsidies, energy policies, and infrastructure planning with forest conservation strategies. This alignment ensures that economic development does not come at the expense of forest cover. Finally, countries must strengthen community rights by empowering Indigenous Peoples and local communities with secure land tenure, while leveraging advanced technology like satellite monitoring to track forest cover changes and detect illegal activities.
Key Takeaways
- The Global Forest Goals Report 2026 was launched during the 21st session of the UN Forum on Forests (UNFF21) held from May 11 to 15, 2026, in New York.
- Global forest cover decreased from 4.18 billion hectares in 2015 to 4.14 billion hectares in 2025, representing an annual net loss of 4.12 million hectares.
- The world lost nearly 16 million hectares of primary forests over the past decade, with South America recording the largest share of this decline.
- The United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) was established in 2000 by the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) as a functional commission.
- The report evaluated the six Global Forest Goals of the UN Strategic Plan for Forests 2017–2030 and found that two targets are currently off track.
- The UN Strategic Plan for Forests 2017–2030 was formally adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in April 2017 under resolution 71/285.
