14.11.2025
Tropical forests account for 45% of the world's forests, but are the main focus of deforestation.
The FAO has just published its 2025 report on the Global Forest Resources Assessment (FRA 2025). This document, an international reference for forest monitoring, highlights the crucial importance of tropical forests in the fight against climate change, while reminding us that they remain the most threatened.
Tropical forests: a global ecological pillar
Our planet has a total of 4.14 billion hectares of forest, representing nearly one-third (32 percent) of the world's land area and the equivalent of 0.50 hectares of forest per capita.
According to the FAO, tropical forests cover 1.6 billion hectares, or 45 percent of the world's forest area.
They are mainly distributed between:
· South America (842 million ha),
· Africa (674 million ha),
· and South and Southeast Asia (322 million ha).
Distribution of the world's forests by climate zone, FAO 2025
These forests, concentrated in the great basins of the Amazon, Congo, and Southeast Asia, constitute the richest ecosystems on the planet: they are home to more than half of all known plant and animal species and store an average of more than 200 tons of biomass per hectare, compared to a global average of 130 tons.
Deforestation remains a concern
Despite protection and restoration efforts, the report highlights that 9.8 million hectares of forest disappear each year, including nearly 9 million in tropical areas. The main causes identified are agricultural expansion, illegal logging, fires, and rapid urbanization.
Net deforestation has nevertheless slowed by 30% since 2010, a sign of growing awareness and better policy frameworks.
The report also notes that planted forests now account for 7% of tropical forest cover, or about 110 million hectares, with annual growth of nearly 3 million hectares, mainly in Asia and South America.
Annual net change in forest area, by country, 1990-2025, FAO, 2N25
Measurable progress towards sustainable management
FRA 2025 highlights concrete progress:
These indicators reflect a positive shift towards integrated and responsible management practices that combine conservation, production, and local development.
Key points
The chart on page 38 of the FRA 2025 report illustrates the global distribution of forest cover by ecological domain.
It clearly shows the predominance of the tropical domain, which alone accounts for nearly half of the world's forests.
The diagram also shows that tropical rainforests, although geographically concentrated, store more than 60% of total forest carbon, confirming their crucial role in combating climate change.
Forest carbon stock, by region, 1990-2025, FAO 2025
In conclusion
Tropical forests remain the living heart of the planet: they are home to most of the Earth's biodiversity, regulate the global climate, and provide livelihoods for more than a billion people.
But their future will depend on our collective ability to strengthen sustainable management, promote certification, and support the forestry policies of producing countries.
“The sustainability of tropical forests determines the sustainability of the planet,” the FAO reminds us in its report.
Source: FAO, Global Forest Resources Assessment 2025 (FRA 2025)
https://www.fao.org/forest-resources-assessment/fr
