Why is it in the news?

• The 2024 Forest Declaration Assessment Report, titled “Forests under fire: Tracking progress on 2030 forest goals,” has been released.
• Following the 2030 zero deforestation pledge endorsed by most countries at the UN COP26 climate summit in 2021, this assessment—created by a coalition of research and civil society organizations—evaluates progress toward this commitment.
• Using an average deforestation baseline from 2018 to 2020, the report reveals that efforts are significantly off track, with deforestation levels in 2023 nearly 50% higher than what would be necessary for steady progress toward achieving zero deforestation.

Key Findings

Shortcomings in Meeting Targets:

• The goal for 2023 was to limit global deforestation to a maximum of 4.4 million hectares (10.9 million acres). However, global deforestation remains 45% above the levels required to meet international objectives.
• Notably, nearly 96% of all deforestation occurred in tropical regions, most of which failed to achieve their annual targets. This tropical deforestation emitted approximately 3.7 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide-equivalent in 2023.

Loss of Forests:

• In 2023, the world lost 6.37 million hectares of forest, which is 45% higher than the target for eliminating deforestation by 2030.
• Primary tropical forests, crucial for carbon storage and biodiversity, accounted for a loss of 3.7 million hectares, highlighting significant challenges in global efforts to combat deforestation and forest degradation.

Forest Damage: Damage to forests that does not result in complete destruction is ten times worse than deforestation itself, impacting 62.6 million hectares in 2022.

Main Drivers: The primary drivers of deforestation across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean include agriculture, road construction, fires, and commercial logging.

Positive Progress:

• Brazil has made strides by reducing its deforestation by 9% compared to previous levels, demonstrating that significant progress is achievable.
• Other countries such as Australia, Colombia, Paraguay, Venezuela, and Vietnam have also shown progress toward the 2030 deforestation targets.

Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs): The report highlights the loss of KBAs, with over 1.4 million hectares of forest lost in 2023. Protecting these areas is vital for the wildlife and Indigenous communities that rely on them.

Threat of Forest Fires: Forest fires pose a significant threat, primarily due to intentional land clearing for agriculture. Since 2001, 138 million hectares of tree cover have been lost to fires, with about one-third of that loss occurring between 2019 and 2023.

Recommended Actions:

• The report outlines essential steps for global stakeholders to achieve forest protection goals, including:

1) Ensuring adequate funding for conservation efforts.

2) Reducing demand for products linked to deforestation.

3) Recognizing the critical role of Indigenous and local communities in protecting forests.

Conclusion

• The challenges highlighted in the 2024 Forest Declaration Assessment emphasize that achieving forest conservation goals and promoting sustainable economic development can go hand in hand.
• However, success hinges on the commitment of governments, industry, and civil society to prioritize forests and adopt sustainable practices at all levels. With only a few years left before the 2030 deadline, immediate action is essential.