UN FAO, 2010 - Two Sides

Extent of forest resources 11
More than 90 percent of the total forest area consists of naturally
regenerated forests
Primary forests – forests of native species in which there are no clearly visible signs of
past or present human activity – are estimated to occupy 36 percent of the total forest
area. Other naturally regenerated forests make up some 57 percent, while planted
forests account for an estimated 7 percent, of the total forest area.
The area of mangroves continues to decline, while the area of bamboo and
rubber plantations is increasing
The total area of mangroves is estimated at 15.6 million hectares as of 2010, down from
16.1 million hectares in 1990. Nearly half the total mangrove area (47 percent) is found
in five countries: Indonesia, Brazil, Nigeria, Australia and Mexico.
The area of bamboo is difficult to assess, as these species often occur as patches
within forests or as clusters outside them. Nevertheless, preliminary findings based on
information from 33 of the main bamboo-rich countries indicate that the total area is
about 31.5 million hectares.
Rubber plantations are found in relatively few countries – primarily in Southeast
Asia and Africa – and cover an estimated 10 million hectares. While the area of rubber
increased rapidly in the 1990s, the rate of increase is now beginning to slow down and
is currently decreasing in several countries.
in 2010, the estimated total growing stock in the world’s forest amounted to
about 527 billion m 3
This corresponds to an average of 131 m 3 per hectare. The highest levels of growing
stock per hectare were found in central Europe and some tropical areas. There was a
small decline in total growing stock over the period 1990–2010, but it is unlikely that
this change is significant in statistical terms.
forests contain more carbon than the entire atmosphere
The world’s forests store more than 650 billion tonnes of carbon, 44 percent in the
biomass, 11 percent in dead wood and litter, and 45 percent in the soil. While sustainable
management, planting and rehabilitation of forests can conserve or increase forest carbon
stocks, deforestation, degradation and poor forest management reduce them. For the world
as a whole, carbon stocks in forest biomass decreased by an estimated 0.5 Gt annually
during the period 2005–2010. This was mainly because of a reduction in the global forest
area and occurred despite an increase in growing stock per hectare in some regions.
KEy cOnclusiOns
Considerable progress has been made towards reversing the overall trend of forest area
loss, and several variables related to the extent of forest resources show no significant
negative trends or even a positive trend over time in some countries and regions.
Yet deforestation, including uncontrolled conversion of forests to agricultural land,
continues at an alarmingly high rate in many countries. Considerable efforts are needed
to ensure the overall trend in extent of forest resources is positive or stable in all regions.
fOrEsT ArEA And fOrEsT ArEA chAngE
introduction
Forest area provides the first indication of the relative importance of forests in a country
or region. Estimates of the change in forest area over time provide an indication of the
demand for land for forestry and other uses. Forest area is relatively easy to measure
and has been selected as one of 60 indicators for monitoring progress towards the
Millennium Development Goals (Goal 7 – Ensuring environmental sustainability), the
2010 Biodiversity Target and the Global Objectives on Forests.