The Forest Declaration Assessment 2025
Syllabus: Ecology (UPSC GS III)
Source: Indian Express
Context:
The Forest Declaration Assessment 2025 shows that global deforestation reached 8.1 million hectares in 2024, leaving the world 63% off-track to meet the zero deforestation target by 2030, despite new global pledges under the Glasgow and Kunming-Montreal Declarations.
Global Forest Status:
- Forest Loss: 8.1 million ha of forests were cleared and 8.8 million ha degraded in 2024. Tropical regions made up 94% of this loss.
- Carbon Emissions: Deforestation and degradation released 3.1 Gt CO₂e, equal to 1.5 times U.S. energy emissions.
- Primary Forests at Risk: 6.7 million ha of tropical primary forests were destroyed, mainly in Latin America and Africa.
- Biodiversity Impact: 2.2 million ha of forested biodiversity areas were lost, endangering rare species.
- Restoration Gap: Only 10.6 million ha of land are under restoration—just 0.3% of global potential.
Main Causes:
- Agriculture (86%) – Conversion for pasture, soy, and palm oil.
- Mining & Infrastructure – Roads and extraction sites open forests to logging.
- Fires & Climate Stress – Amazon fires in 2024 emitted 791 Mt CO₂e.
- Weak Governance – Corruption and poor law enforcement drive illegal clearing.
- High Consumption – Industrial nations import deforestation-linked goods.
Restoration Efforts:
- Global Commitments: UN’s Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021–2030) aims to restore 30% of degraded land.
- Regional Action: Latin America and Asia lead 70% of projects.
- Monitoring Tools: FAO’s FERM tracks restoration progress.
- Innovative Models: Agroforestry and community projects connect livelihoods with forest revival.
- India’s Efforts: Under Green India Mission, CAMPA, and National Afforestation Programme, India targets 26 million ha restoration by 2030.
Key Challenges:
- Lack of Finance: Forest projects get less than 10% of global climate funds.
- Data Gaps: Separate tracking systems hinder global coordination.
- Weak Policies: Agricultural subsidies still encourage deforestation.
- Limited Community Rights: Indigenous groups lack land ownership and say in decisions.
- Low Restoration Quality: Focus on tree counts over ecosystem health.
Recommendations:
- Make Forest Goals Legally Binding.
- Redirect Finance toward green, deforestation-free supply chains.
- Empower Local Communities through legal land rights and inclusion.
- Integrate Global Monitoring Systems for transparent data sharing.
- Promote Sustainable Farming and agroforestry practices.
Conclusion:
The Forest Declaration Assessment 2025 warns that the world’s forests are vanishing faster than policy action. Protecting and restoring them through strong laws, local empowerment, and sustainable consumption is vital for climate stability and future generations.
