The Global Forest Resources Assessment report is an essential resource for understanding long-term trends in forest resources and how they relate to global goals and targets, including those on biodiversity, climate and sustainable land use. It is a publication of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations that is published once in five years. Global Forest Resources Assessment 2025 Forests are at the core of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Understanding their status and how they change over time, therefore, is essential for designing and implementing sustainable policies, monitoring their impacts, and ensuring the long-term provision of forest goods and services. With its transparent methodology and broad scope, the Global Forest Resources Assessment 2025 is the only worldwide assessment based on official national data. It is, therefore, the most authoritative global source of data for policymakers, foresters, researchers and anyone wanting to know the past, present and future of the world’s forests. Drawing on national reports prepared for FAO, the Global Forest Resources Assessment 2025 provides a detailed analysis of forest extent and change; characteristics; biomass and carbon; policies and legislation; designation and management; ownership and management rights; disturbances; non-wood forest products; and more. Key findings It finds that, although the rate of deforestation is slowing, forests are still being lost at nearly 11 million hectares per year. The area of planted forests continues to expand, but at a slower rate than before. Legally protected forests now cover one-fifth of the total forest area, and more than half the world’s forests are under formal management plans. More than half (54 percent) of the world’s forests is in only five countries – the Russian Federation, Brazil, Canada, the United States of America and China (in descending order by area). More than 90% of the world's forests are regenerating naturally. Primary forests cover at least 1.18 billion ha (29 percent of the total forest area). Planted forests account for 8 percent of the total forest area, covering an estimated 312 million ha in 2025. The largest area of planted forests is in Asia, at 146 million ha, where this forest type represents 23 percent of the total forest area (the largest proportion of any region). The world’s forest growing stock in 2025 is estimated at 630 billion m3, which is an average of 152 m3 per ha. Approximately one-third of the growing stock is in primary forests. Global forest biomass in 2025 is estimated at 709 gigatonnes, which is an average of 171 tonnes per ha. The forest carbon stock, including all carbon pools, is estimated at 714 gigatonnes, or 172 tonnes per ha. Forty-six percent of the forest carbon stock is in soil, 44 percent is in living (aboveground and belowground) biomass and 10 percent is in litter and deadwood. Forests face many disturbances that can adversely affect their health and vitality and reduce their capacity to provide goods and ecosystem services. Fire is a significant disturbance in forests and a contributor to forest loss and degradation. Seventy-one percent of the world’s forests is under public ownership, 24 percent is privately owned, and the ownership of the remainder is categorized as either “unknown” or “other”. Globally, 1.20 billion ha of forest (29 percent of the total forest area) is managed primarily to produce wood and non-wood forest products. In addition, about 616 million ha of forest is designated for multiple use, which often includes production. An estimated 221 million ha of forests globally is allocated for social services such as recreation, tourism, education, research and the conservation of cultural and spiritual sites. India statistics India has achieved a significant milestone in global environmental conservation, moving up to the 9th position in terms of total forest area globally The country has also maintained its 3rd position worldwide in terms of annual forest area gain, reaffirming its commitment to sustainable forest management and ecological balance. To read the full report, click here.