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Global Forest Conservation

Save the World's Forests

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1. Present Conditions of the World's Forests

Forest areas cover approximately 3.95 billion ha, accounting for 30.2% of the total land area of the world. But the global forest area continues to diminish by 7.317 million ha annually (average from 2000 to 2005).
The most seriously affected areas are the tropical forests of South America, Africa and South-East Asia. But some temperate forests, especially in China, have increased their area. The contraction and expansion of forest areas vary widely between regions.
Brazil and Indonesia have experienced the largest losses by far. The rich tropical forests in these countries are rapidly disappearing. Next most badly affected are Sudan and Myanmar.
Among countries with increasing forest areas, China is far and away the most successful. Having experienced recurrent desertification, floods, mudslides and drought, China has striven for afforestation. Outside China, deforestation is still making alarming progress.

World's Forests

Annual Change to World Forest Areas 2000-2005

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