UN Issues Global Deforestation Report

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has released a new study of global forests, noting a net loss of 72.9 million hectares in the 15-year period between 1999 and 2005. (One hectare equals 2.5 acres.) That calculates to an average loss of 10 hectares each minute for 15 years.

The startling thing is that this net loss was 32% lower than previously expected estimated loss of 107.4 million hectares. Forests cover about 30% of the earth’s surface, or 3.69 billion hectares.

The FAO said:

The new findings suggest that the rate of world deforestation averaged 14.5 million hectares per year between 1990 and 2005, which is consistent with previous estimates. Deforestation largely occurred in the tropics, likely attributable to the conversion of tropical forests to agricultural land.

An FAO official also noted that “[d]eforestation is depriving millions of people of forest goods and services that are crucial to rural livelihoods, economic well-being and environmental health.”

The FAO press release and a link to the report are available here.