State of the World's Forests 2026: 460 Million Hectares of Forests Degraded Globally; India Emerges as Second-Largest Contributor to Restoration
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has released the State of the World's Forests (SOFO) 2026 report, warning that forest degradation and land degradation continue to threaten biodiversity, climate stability, food security, and livelihoods worldwide.
The theme of this year's report—"Restoring Forests and Landscapes: The Way Forward for a Sustainable Future"—emphasises that large-scale forest and landscape restoration is essential to achieving global climate, biodiversity, and sustainable development goals.
According to the report, more than 460 million hectares of forests and 1.56 billion hectares of land are currently degraded worldwide, mainly due to population growth, unsustainable land-use changes, and rising demand for natural resources. The report stresses that while many countries have expanded restoration efforts, the pace remains insufficient to meet global restoration targets.
Key Highlights
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What is the State of the World's Forests (SOFO) Report?
The State of the World's Forests (SOFO) is a flagship biennial publication of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
The report evaluates the condition of forests across the globe, assesses major policy developments, and provides scientific recommendations for sustainable forest management, biodiversity conservation, and restoration.
The 2026 edition focuses on scaling up forest and landscape restoration to create long-term environmental, economic, and social benefits.
Global Forest Degradation: What Does the Report Reveal?
The SOFO 2026 report paints a concerning picture of global forest health.
It estimates that:
460 million hectares of forests are degraded.
1.56 billion hectares of land have suffered degradation.
Population growth, expanding agriculture, urbanisation, infrastructure development, and increasing demand for forest products continue to intensify pressure on forests.
The report notes that current levels of restoration remain inadequate despite improvements in national restoration commitments.
Regional Distribution of Degraded Land
According to the report, degraded land is concentrated across several regions:
Asia: 583 million hectares
Africa: 334 million hectares
South America: 245 million hectares
These figures represent degraded land recorded in 2019 and highlight the urgent need for region-specific restoration strategies.
India Emerges as a Global Restoration Leader
One of the report's major highlights is India's growing contribution to global forest restoration.
Countries with the largest restored forest landscapes include:
Country | Area Under Restoration |
China | 127.4 million hectares |
India | 18.9 million hectares |
Sudan | Significant restoration |
Mongolia | Significant restoration |
Indonesia | Significant restoration |
India ranks second globally, reflecting large-scale plantation programmes and restoration initiatives undertaken over the past decade.
Restoration Progress Still Falls Short
Although many countries have expanded restoration programmes and strengthened policy frameworks, global progress remains insufficient.
To achieve Target 2 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), the world must:
Restore 30% of degraded ecosystems by 2030
Add 65.6 million hectares of restoration every year from 2027 onwards
Restore an additional 262.5 million hectares before 2030
The report warns that current restoration rates are not enough to meet these targets.
Why Is Progress Difficult to Measure?
The report highlights significant challenges in tracking restoration efforts globally.
Different countries use:
Different restoration definitions
Different reporting methodologies
Different monitoring indicators
As a result, global comparisons remain difficult.
Current reporting also focuses mainly on the area restored, while giving limited attention to the actual ecological and socioeconomic impacts of restoration.
Four Key Pathways for Successful Restoration
The FAO identifies four strategic pathways to scale up forest and landscape restoration:
1. Empower Communities and Strengthen Rights
Restoration efforts should actively involve local communities, Indigenous Peoples, and landholders while recognising their legal and customary rights.
2. Restore at Landscape Scale
Instead of restoring isolated forest patches, restoration should address entire landscapes by integrating forests, agriculture, wetlands, rivers, and human settlements.
3. Mobilise Finance
Governments, private investors, financial institutions, and businesses must increase investments in restoration through innovative financing mechanisms and sustainable business models.
4. Strengthen Policies and Institutions
Countries should establish coherent policies, strong institutions, and effective legal frameworks to support long-term restoration.
Restoration Is an Investment, Not a Cost
The report emphasises that restoring forests provides benefits far beyond biodiversity conservation.
Forest restoration contributes to:
Climate change mitigation
Climate adaptation
Biodiversity conservation
Food security
Water security
Disaster risk reduction
Rural livelihoods
Economic resilience
According to the report, restoration projects can generate returns of up to USD 30 for every USD 1 invested, depending on local ecological and economic conditions.
Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities Play a Central Role
The report highlights that restoration is most successful when local communities actively participate.
Indigenous Peoples contribute through:
Traditional ecological knowledge
Sustainable land management practices
Biodiversity conservation
Protection of cultural heritage
The report also stresses the importance of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) while implementing restoration projects affecting Indigenous communities.
What is the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)?
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialised agency of the United Nations established on 16 October 1945.
Its headquarters are located in Rome, Italy.
FAO's Main Objectives
Eradicate hunger and malnutrition
Reduce poverty
Promote sustainable agriculture
Improve food security
Ensure sustainable management of forests, fisheries, land, water and biodiversity
FAO currently has 194 members, comprising 193 countries and the European Union, and operates in more than 130 countries.
Major Reports Published by FAO
FAO publishes several globally recognised reports, including:
State of the World's Forests (SOFO)
Global Forest Resources Assessment (FRA)
State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI)
State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture (SOFIA)
State of Food and Agriculture (SOFA)
FAO Food Price Index
Food Outlook
Codex Alimentarius (jointly with WHO)
What is the Global Forest Resources Assessment (FRA) 2025?
The Global Forest Resources Assessment (FRA) is FAO's flagship report on global forest resources, published every five years.
It is considered the world's most comprehensive assessment of:
Forest extent
Forest management
Forest use
Sustainable forest management
The FRA covers all countries using standardised methodologies.
Key Findings of FRA 2025
According to the Global Forest Resources Assessment 2025:
The world has 4.14 billion hectares of forests.
Forests cover 32% of Earth's land area.
There is 0.50 hectare of forest per person globally.
Annual deforestation has declined but remains high at 10.9 million hectares per year (2015–2025).
Countries with the Largest Forest Areas
The five countries with the largest forest cover are:
Russia
Brazil
Canada
United States
China
However, the report also notes that global annual forest cover loss has increased, mainly because net forest gains have slowed in China, Canada, and the United States.
Between:
2000–2015: Average forest loss was 3.68 million hectares annually
Recent assessment: Forest loss increased to 4.12 million hectares annually
India's Position in FRA 2025
India recorded significant progress in the latest assessment.
Key highlights include:
9th largest forest area globally
3rd highest annual gain in forest area
Total forest area: 72.74 million hectares
Accounts for 2% of the world's forest area
The report attributes India's gains primarily to the expansion of plantations, including bamboo and rubber plantations.
Countries Without Forests
According to FRA 2025, seven territories reported having no forests:
Falkland Islands (Malvinas)
Gibraltar
Holy See
Monaco
Nauru
Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands
Tokelau
Why Forest Restoration Matters
Healthy forests are critical for:
Absorbing carbon dioxide
Conserving biodiversity
Protecting watersheds
Supporting agriculture
Preventing soil erosion
Regulating rainfall
Supporting millions of livelihoods
The FAO concludes that investing in restoration today will cost far less than addressing the long-term consequences of ecosystem degradation.
The State of the World's Forests 2026 delivers a clear message: restoring degraded forests and landscapes is no longer optional but essential for tackling climate change, biodiversity loss, food insecurity, and land degradation.
While countries like India and China have made notable progress, the report warns that restoration efforts must accelerate significantly to achieve global targets by 2030. Success will depend on stronger policies, increased financing, community participation, and science-based restoration practices.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. What is the State of the World's Forests (SOFO) Report?
Answer. The SOFO Report is FAO's biennial global assessment that examines the condition of forests and provides policy recommendations for sustainable forest management and restoration.
Q2. Who publishes the State of the World's Forests Report?
Answer. The report is published by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations.
Q3. How much forest area is degraded globally?
Answer. According to SOFO 2026, more than 460 million hectares of forests are degraded worldwide.
Q4. How much degraded land exists globally?
Answer. The report estimates that 1.56 billion hectares of land are degraded globally.
Q5. Which country has restored the largest forest area?
Answer. China leads with 127.4 million hectares under restoration, followed by India with 18.9 million hectares.
Q6. What is India's global rank in forest restoration?
Answer. India is the second-largest contributor to global forest restoration.
Q7. What does the Global Forest Resources Assessment (FRA) 2025 say about India?
Answer. India ranks 9th globally in total forest area and 3rd worldwide in annual forest area gain, with 72.74 million hectares of forests.
Q8. What return can forest restoration generate?
Answer. According to the SOFO 2026 report, restoration can generate returns of up to USD 30 for every USD 1 invested, depending on local conditions.
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