Degraded forests not only mean that there are fewer trees; they also put water, soils, food production, and the livelihoods of millions of people at risk.
Facing this, the FAO focuses on improving these degraded forests not as an environmental cost, but as a strategic investment capable of strengthening food security and promoting rural development.
Have you ever wondered what is really gained by restoring degraded forests and under what conditions such restoration can endure over time? The report The State of the World’s Forests 2026 analyzes the economic, environmental, and social value of restoring these ecosystems and focuses on their ability to protect essential resources and sustain the activities of the communities that depend on them.
FAO’s analysis takes stock of the extent of forest degradation, the economic estimates, and the progress achieved in pursuing that improvement; while explaining the importance of tailoring actions to each territory and incorporating both scientific knowledge and the experience of local populations.
All with the aim of understanding whether there is a connection—and how close or not—it is between restoration commitments and an effective recovery capable of delivering long-term benefits.
The reasons behind degraded forests
Around 1.56 billion hectares of forest worldwide are degraded by various factors, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), which contends that forest restoration, beyond being an environmental priority, is a strategic and high-impact investment.
In The State of the World’s Forests 2026 report published this Monday, it is estimated that between 1990 and 2025, 489 million hectares were lost to deforestation, while more than 460 million hectares remain degraded worldwide.
Population growth, changes in land use, and the rising demand for natural resources are among the factors that have contributed to the reality of degraded forests, to which threats such as fires—affecting an average of 127 million hectares each year—are added.
Globally, the impact of not restoring degraded forest ecosystems is estimated at between $878 billion and $6.3 trillion, equivalent to 2% and 8.3% of annual GDP, depending on the scope of the valuation, according to the FAO in the report.
“Forest and landscape restoration is more than an environmental priority: it is a strategic investment in resilient agro-food systems and rural development,” writes FAO Director-General QU Dongyu in the foreword of the report.
It is estimated, in fact, that restoring more than one billion hectares of degraded forest land could yield benefits worth $1.8 trillion annually, including greater biodiversity, better water regulation, and healthier soils.
“Investing $2.6 trillion over 15 years in mitigating land degradation and drought could generate a social return of eight to one. Under favorable conditions, restoration can yield up to $30 in social returns for every dollar invested,” states that United Nations body.
Forests cover 4.14 billion hectares, representing about 32% of the Earth’s land surface. They store 714 gigatons of carbon and host up to 80% of the planet’s terrestrial biodiversity.
Moreover, “they are the foundation of resilient agri-food systems, as nearly a third of the world’s population depends on forests and trees for their food security and livelihoods.”
Therefore, their restoration “also creates jobs, revitalizes production systems, and fosters resilient growth. The benefits go beyond income and include greater well-being, stronger social cohesion, and the preservation of cultural identity and knowledge systems,” notes FAO.
The report also acknowledges progress and highlights that governments of 91 countries and territories have committed to allocating more than 190 million hectares to forest restoration.
Projects to Halt Degraded Forests
Forests cover 4.14 billion hectares, representing about 32% of the Earth’s land surface. They store 714 gigatons of carbon and host up to 80% of the planet’s terrestrial biodiversity.
It also highlights restoration projects such as the “Great Green Wall Initiative for the Sahara and Sahel”, the “Three-North Shelterbelt Program of China”, and the “Atlantic Forest Trinational Pact” spanning Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay.
However, “progress remains insufficient, as there are currently only 206.5 million hectares of forests in the restoration process.”
The State of the World’s Forests report was released in connection with the FAO’s 28th Committee on Forestry (COFO 28) and its 10th World Forest Week.
