Introduction
For Post 80 we asked our Country Managers to provide a description and analysis of the forest cover in their countries and its impact on climate change. Post 80 provides detailed Country Reports that describe: how much of each country’s land is covered by forests? What is the composition of the trees in each country’s forests and how much carbon do they sequester? How much of each country’s forests has been destroyed by logging, development operations, or wildfires over the past 10 years? To what extent are forest sequestration, destruction, and development included in the country’s NDC? In what ways does each country’s public policy protect, expand, or destroy forest coverage?
Table A presents highlights from each Country Report. The detailed Country Reports are provided below.
| Country | Key Forest and Climate Issues |
| Australia |
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| Brazil |
|
| Canada |
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| China |
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| European Union |
|
| France |
|
| Germany |
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| India |
|
| Indonesia |
|
| Japan |
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| Mexico |
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| Nigeria |
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| Saudi Arabia |
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| South Africa |
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| Spain |
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| Turkey |
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| United Kingdom |
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| United States |
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Country Reports
Australian Forests Offset One-Third of the Nation’s Fossil Fuel Emissions
Australia is a large, dry country with diverse land cover. As of 2020, primary forest covered 134.01 million hectares, or 17% of the country’s approximately 769 million hectares of land. This accounts for around 3% of the world’s forest area. The most common forest type in Australia is Eucalypt, which covers 101 million hectares, or…
Brazil’s Forests Cover 58.5% of its National Territory
Brazil’s forest area is significant. It is equivalent to approximately 58.5% of the national territory, covering an area of about 497,962,509 hectares (or 4,979,625 km²)1. Of this total area, approximately 98% corresponds to natural forests, while only 2% are planted forests.Brazil is home to an impressive diversity of tree species. It is estimated that there…
Canada Has Been Losing its Old-Growth Forests
Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) affirms 367 million hectares (Mha) of forest across Canada, comprising approximately 34.8% of Canada’s land. This is 15 times the size of all the Great Lakes put together. Canadians expect a lot from our forests, from biodiversity, recreation, carbon storage, and water filtration to building materials, employment opportunities, and cultural identity….
Since 2010, Forest Cover in China has Doubled, Although Losses in Primary Forests have Also Occurred.
China is among the countries with the longest tradition of forest recuperation programs. The government launched the Three-North Shelterbelt Program as early as the 1970s. Also called the Great Green Wall, it is one of the oldest public efforts to increase forest area in China. It aims to plant 4,500 kilometers of trees through the…
EU’s High Forest Coverage will be an Asset in Achieving Climate Goals through Increased Carbon Sequestration
One of the less widely focused climate topics in the EU is the importance of forests. Forests act as natural carbon sinks and help manage air and soil temperatures, enhancing vegetation and wildlife. As such, forest cover has been, and will continue to be, a crucial asset in the EU’s achieving its climate goals.Eurostat data…
French Biodiversity Plan and Forest Policy Aim to Strike Balance Between Sustainable Forest Management and Economic Development
France is home to a vast expanse of forests, covering approximately 17 million hectares, constituting about 31% of the country’s total land area. These forests are crucial in combating climate change by sequestering atmospheric carbon dioxide. On average, France’s forests sequester an estimated 87 million tons of CO2 each year, which accounts for about 19%…
Forests Cover About 32.68% of Germany’s Land Area
Forests play a crucial role in the ecosystem, acting as carbon sinks, centres of biodiversity and sources of renewable resources. According to the World Bank, forests cover about 32.68% of Germany’s land area, or about 114,190 square kilometres in 2021. Over the past 30 years, Germany’s forest cover has remained relatively stable, increasing by around…
Forests in India Cover About 21% of the Land Area
Forest cover is the total geographical area declared as forest by the government. As of 2021, the total forest cover in India stood at 80.9 million hectares, approximately 21.71 percent of the total geographical area. According to the India State of the Forest Report (https://fsi.nic.in/forest-report-2021-details, ISFR, 2021), India’s forest cover is 7,13,789 square kilometers. It…
Indonesia’s Forests: A Critical Biodiversity and Carbon Hub
Indonesia’s forests cover 52.1 % of the country’s total land. Of this, 50% are primary forests, the most biodiverse and carbon-dense type. The country also has 3.5 million hectares of planted forest. Indonesia’s forests, composed of diverse tree species like dipterocarps, mangroves, and peatland trees, play a critical role in carbon sequestration. Dominant species such…
Forests of the Rising Sun: A Vital Resource in Japan’s Climate Strategy
Japan’s Forests Account for 67% of the Country’s Total Land Area Japan, known for its technological advancements and urban landscapes, is also home to vast forested areas that play a crucial role in the country’s climate change mitigation efforts. This Post examines the current state of Japan’s forests, their impact on carbon sequestration, and their…
Forests Play an Important Role in Mexico’s Paris Agreement NDC
Mexico is a biodiversity hotspot with an extensive forest cover that is crucial in mitigating climate change by sequestering carbon, supporting ecosystems, and providing livelihoods. According to the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), about 64.8 million hectares of Mexico’s land area is covered by forests, representing approximately 33% of the country’s total landmass….
Assessing Forest Cover and Composition in Nigeria
Nigeria’s once expansive forests are now under severe threat, reduced to only 12.8% of the country’s land—around 110,890 square kilometers. Over time, deforestation has severely damaged these ecosystems, with forests vanishing at 350,000 hectares annually. If this trend continues, it is estimated that in 2052, the forests may be completely gone, resulting in catastrophic consequences…
Saudi Arabia Forest Information and Data
According to data obtained from official Saudi sources, the forest area in Saudi Arabia will cover 0.45448% in 2021. Saudi Arabia’s forests contain 6 million metric tons of carbon in living forest biomass. About 2.7 million hectares of woodland remain in the mountains of Saudi Arabia, especially in remote, steep, inaccessible areas. The juniper (Juniper…
Urbanization, Farming, and Mining have Reduced South Africa’s Forest Stock
In 2010, South Africa had about 3.93 Mha of natural forest, covering over 4.3% of its land area. In 2023, it lost 12.3 ha of natural forest, equivalent to 26.2 Mt of CO₂ emissions. From 2000 to 2020, South Africa experienced a net change of -142 kha (-1.9%) in tree cover. Stable forest 5.80 Mha Gain 388 kha Loss 530 kha Disturbed 1.28 Mha 2010 South Africa’s natural forests covered…
Spain’s Forest Ecosystems Could Become Sources of Emissions, As is Happening in Other European Countries
The update of the Spanish Forest Strategy and the Spanish Forest Plan in 2022 brought with it the publication of the latest data on the state of forests in Spain. With this data, the Forest Map of Spain and the National Forest Inventory were created, showing that just over 28 million hectares are forest areas…
Forests Cover Almost a Third of Turkey and Produce 42 Million Tons of Oxygen Annually
Forests cover almost a third of Turkey. They are almost all state-owned and vary from temperate rainforest in the northeast to maquis in the south and west. Pine, fir, oak, and beech are common. While the forest area in Turkey accounted for 26.7% of the country’s surface area in 1999, this percentage increased to 29%…
The UK’s Forests Play a Vital Role in the Country’s Climate Change Mitigation Strategy
Forests are essential in mitigating climate change by acting as carbon sinks, supporting biodiversity, and regulating local climates. In the United Kingdom, forests significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, promote biodiversity, and improve air and water quality. This Report explores forest coverage in the UK, the composition of trees and their carbon sequestration potential, the impact…
The U.S has Lost 10% of its Tree Cover Since 2010
A total of 818,814,000 acres in the United States is covered by forest. That’s 36.21% of the total land mass. United States forests are a mix of many different types as the United States spans a large land area and is composed of Arctic to tropical zones. The United States mostly has deciduous and coniferous…