联合国粮农组织-2020年全球森林资源评估（英文）-2021.3-16页_1mb

Global Forest Resources Assessment 2020 - Key Findings Summary

Core Content

The Global Forest Resources Assessment 2020 (FRA 2020) is a comprehensive report by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) that provides key insights into the global status and trends of forest resources between 1990 and 2020. It serves as a critical source of data for monitoring progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically SDG 15.1.1 and 15.2.1.

Main Findings

Global Forest Area

• The world has a total forest area of 4.06 billion hectares (ha), which is 31% of the total land area.
• Forests are not evenly distributed; tropical forests account for 45% of the global forest area.
• Five countries (Russian Federation, Brazil, Canada, USA, and China) hold 54% of the world's forests.

Forest Area Change

• Total forest loss since 1990 is 178 million ha, equivalent to the area of Libya.
• The rate of net forest loss decreased over time, from 7.8 million ha/year (1990–2000) to 4.7 million ha/year (2010–2020).
• Africa had the highest net loss of forest area in 2010–2020, at 3.9 million ha, while Asia had the highest net gain.

Forest Regeneration and Plantations

• 93% of global forest area is naturally regenerating, and 7% is planted.
• Plantation forests cover 131 million ha, or 3% of the total forest area.
• South America has the highest proportion of plantation forests (99% of total planted area), while Europe has the lowest (0.4% of total forest area).
• Introduced species make up 44% of global plantation forests, with significant regional variations.

Protected Areas

• 726 million ha of forest is located in protected areas globally.
• South America has the highest share (31%) of forests in protected areas.
• The area of forest in protected areas has increased by 191 million ha since 1990, but the rate of increase has slowed in the last decade.

Primary Forests

• There are 1.11 billion ha of primary forests globally, which are forests with no visible human activity and undisturbed ecological processes.
• Brazil, Canada, and the Russian Federation together host 61% of the world’s primary forests.
• The area of primary forests has decreased by 81 million ha since 1990, with a reduced rate of loss in the last decade.

Forest Management

• 2.05 billion ha of forest globally has a long-term management plan.
• Europe has the highest proportion of forests with management plans, while Africa and South America have less than 25% and 20%, respectively.
• The area of forest under management plans has increased by 233 million ha since 2000.

Forest Ownership

• 73% of the world’s forests are publicly owned, and 22% are privately owned.
• Oceania, North and Central America, and South America have the highest proportions of private forests.
• The share of publicly owned forests has decreased since 1990, with an increasing share managed by private entities and indigenous communities.

Forest Growing Stock and Biomass

• Total growing stock of trees decreased slightly from 560 billion m³ in 1990 to 557 billion m³ in 2020.
• Growing stock per unit area increased from 132 m³/ha to 137 m³/ha.
• Living biomass is about 606 gigatonnes, and dead wood is 59 gigatonnes. Total biomass has slightly decreased since 1990, but biomass per unit area has increased.

Forest Carbon Stock

• Total forest carbon stock decreased from 668 gigatonnes in 1990 to 662 gigatonnes in 2020.
• Carbon density increased slightly from 159 tonnes/ha to 163 tonnes/ha.

Forest Use

• 30% of global forest area is used primarily for production (wood and non-wood products).
• 10% of global forest area is allocated for biodiversity conservation.
• Forest area designated for soil and water protection has increased by 119 million ha since 1990.
• 186 million ha of forest is used mainly for social services (e.g., recreation, tourism, cultural sites).

Key Information

• FRA 2020 data are collected through a transparent and standardized process with national correspondents.
• The report highlights the importance of monitoring forest changes for informed policy and investment decisions.
• A remote sensing survey is being conducted by FAO to provide independent estimates of forest area and changes, with results expected in 2021.
• The report is a collaborative effort involving 187 national correspondents, 156 alternate correspondents, and various international partners.

Conclusion

FRA 2020 provides a detailed overview of the global forest resource, emphasizing the decrease in forest area, slower deforestation rates, and increased use of forest for conservation and social purposes. It underscores the need for sustainable management practices and policy interventions to address ongoing challenges in forest conservation and utilization.