Protecting forests Forests contribute to the livelihood of poor people and nourish the natural systems on which many more people depend. More than 31 percent of the world’s land area is forested, which accounts for as much as 90 percent of terrestrial biodiversity. In most countries, however, forests are shrinking.
Forests cover more than 31 percent of all land worldwide
Forest loss is taking a terrible toll on both the natural and the economic resources of many countries. Forests meet many peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s basic, everyday needs, providing food, fuel, building materials, and clean water. Forests also provide essential public goods of global value. They facilitate the hydrological and nutrient cycles and act as carbon sinks, reducing the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. <]^gj]klYlagf ak l`] eYaf [Ymk] g^ biodiversity loss. Biodiversity refers to the variety of plants and animal species on =Yjl`$ l`] _]f]la[ nYjaYZadalq oal`af ]Y[` species, and the variety of ecosystems in Among developing regions, Latin America and the Caribbean and Sub-Saharan Africa have the largest areas of protected land
Forest coverage (% of land area)
Regional distribution of protected land area (1,000 sq. km), 2010
60
East Asia & Pacific 2,404
50 High-income 5,127
40
Europe & Central Asia 1,765
30
2010
1990
om
e
2010
Latin America & Caribbean 4,118
Sub-Saharan Africa 2,846
gh -in c
1990
South Asia 290
Hi
1990
2010
aha Afr ran ica
b-S Su
2010
1990
2010
1990
2010
2010
1990
Ce Euro ntr pe al A & sia Lat in Am Ca eric rib a & bea n Mi dd l No e E rth ast Afr & ica So uth Asi a
Eas
0
tA s Pac ia & ific
10
1990
20
Middle East & North Africa 336
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization and World Bank estimates
Source: United Nations Environment Programme; World Conservation Monitoring Centre and World Bank estimates
Protected areas conserve habitat for plants and animals
Nearly 75 percent of all forest areas are in developing economies
Nationally protected terrestrial areas (% of total area), 2010
Regional forest coverage (1,000 sq. km), 2010
25 20
High-income 9,630
East Asia & Pacific 4,698
15 Europe & Central Asia 8,784
10 5
116
b-S aha Afr ran ica Hi gh -in com e
Su
Ce Euro ntr pe al A & sia Lat in Am Ca eric rib a & bea n Mi dd l No e E rth ast Afr & ica So uth Asi a
Eas tA s Pac ia & ific
0
Sub-Saharan Africa 6,605
Source: United Nations Environment Programme; World Conservation Monitoring Centre and World Bank estimates
South Asia 817 Middle East & North Africa 211
Latin America & Caribbean 9,460
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization and World Bank estimates