Forest Loss This Year
CURRENT TOTAL
Live Counter Notable Facts
(Data shown in the table is for 2025. Counter shows current estimate)
Annual Deforestation
Per Second Rate
Primary Forest Loss
Understanding Forest Loss This Year
This counter tracks global forest loss since the beginning of the year, including deforestation and forest degradation. Forests cover approximately 31% of the world's land surface but are being lost at an alarming rate, with an estimated 25 million hectares disappearing annually.
Tropical forests, which harbor the highest biodiversity, experience the most significant losses, with agricultural expansion, logging, infrastructure development, and mining driving much of the deforestation. Primary forests—those that have developed naturally without significant human disturbance—are particularly vulnerable, with approximately 3.8 million hectares lost annually.
Forest loss has profound implications for climate stability, biodiversity conservation, watershed protection, and the livelihoods of forest-dependent communities. Forests store vast amounts of carbon, provide habitat for roughly 80% of terrestrial biodiversity, and directly support the livelihoods of over a billion people worldwide.
Global Forest Status
- Agricultural expansion remains the primary driver of deforestation globally, responsible for approximately 73% of forest loss worldwide. Commercial agriculture (particularly for commodities like palm oil, soy, beef, and timber) is dominant in tropical regions, while subsistence agriculture plays a more significant role in parts of Africa and Asia.
- Secondary drivers of forest loss include infrastructure development, urban expansion, mining operations, and natural disturbances such as wildfires, pest outbreaks, and extreme weather events, which are becoming more frequent and severe under climate change.
- Regional patterns of forest change are complex, with net forest area increasing in parts of Europe, Asia, and North America through reforestation and forest expansion, while tropical regions in South America, Africa, and Southeast Asia continue to experience significant net losses.
- International efforts to reduce deforestation have intensified in recent years through initiatives like REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation), zero-deforestation supply chain commitments, protected area expansion, and indigenous land rights recognition.
Forest Terminology
- Deforestation: Permanent conversion of forested land to non-forest uses
- Forest Degradation: Reduction in forest quality without complete conversion to non-forest
- Primary Forest: Naturally regenerated forest with no visible human impacts
- Reforestation: Re-establishment of forest on previously forested land
Deforestation by Region
- South America: 43% of global tropical deforestation
- Africa: 28% of global tropical deforestation
- Southeast Asia: 17% of global tropical deforestation
- Oceania: 7% of global tropical deforestation
- Central America: 5% of global tropical deforestation
Drivers of Forest Loss
- Commercial Agriculture: 40% of tropical deforestation
- Subsistence Agriculture: 33% of tropical deforestation
- Infrastructure & Urban Expansion: 10% of tropical deforestation
- Mining: 7% of tropical deforestation
- Wildfires & Natural Disturbances: 10% of tropical deforestation
Forest Conservation Efforts
- Protected Areas: 18% of global forests within formally protected areas
- REDD+ Projects: Over 350 initiatives in 65 countries
- Forest Restoration Pledges: 210 million hectares committed under Bonn Challenge
- Certification: 11% of global forests under sustainable management certification
- Indigenous Territories: 28% of tropical forest carbon stored in indigenous lands
Data Sources and References
Methodology and Data Collection
Forest loss statistics are compiled from satellite imagery analysis, national forest inventories, and remote sensing data that track changes in forest cover and condition over time.
Real-time deforestation estimates incorporate known seasonal patterns in land clearing activities, recent satellite alerts of forest disturbance, and adjustments for regional deforestation rates and drivers.
Frequently Asked QuestionsAbout Forest Loss This Year
Approximately 25 million hectares of forest are lost globally each year—equivalent to about 0.8 hectares (roughly 2 acres) every second, or an area the size of the UK every 10 months. Primary forests (old-growth, undisturbed forests) account for about 3.8 million hectares of this annual loss.
Agricultural expansion drives about 73% of global deforestation. Commercial agriculture (palm oil, soy, beef, timber) accounts for 40% of tropical deforestation, while subsistence farming contributes 33%. Infrastructure development, urban expansion, and mining together cause about 17%, with wildfires and natural disturbances accounting for the remainder.
South America accounts for 43% of global tropical deforestation, primarily in the Amazon region. Africa follows at 28% (particularly the Congo Basin), Southeast Asia at 17% (Indonesia, Malaysia), Oceania at 7%, and Central America at 5%.
Forests store vast amounts of carbon (deforestation contributes 10-15% of global CO2 emissions), harbor approximately 80% of terrestrial biodiversity, protect watersheds, regulate climate, and directly support over 1 billion people's livelihoods. Forest loss accelerates climate change and species extinction.
Yes—protected areas now cover 18% of global forests, the Bonn Challenge has pledged to restore 210 million hectares, and initiatives like REDD+ operate in 65 countries. About 11% of forests are under sustainable management certification, and 28% of tropical forest carbon is stored in recognized indigenous territories.