Global Forest Goals Report 2026: Fuelwood Drives Forest Degradation
Why in the news
A UN assessment found forests still shrinking and flagged growing use of fuelwood and charcoal as a new major cause of degradation, mainly in sub-Saharan Africa and parts of Asia.
Key facts
- Report: Global Forest Goals Report 2026 by UNDESA and the UNFF Secretariat.
- Forest area: 4.18 billion ha in 2015 down to 4.14 billion ha in 2025; net annual loss 4.12 million ha.
- Primary forest: about 16 million ha lost in 2015-2025, steepest in South America.
- Largest driver of deforestation: agricultural expansion.
- Emerging driver of degradation: fuelwood and charcoal demand, especially sub-Saharan Africa and parts of Asia.
- Climate stress rising: droughts, heatwaves, wildfires, pests and diseases.
Restoration scorecard
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Countries pledging | 91 |
| Area pledged | 190 million ha |
| Area restored by 2025 | 44 million ha |
| Asia restored | Over 31 million ha, which is 42.2% of its pledged area |
Concerns
- Degraded forests are weaker carbon sinks, worsening climate change.
- Fuelwood use mirrors energy poverty, as homes lack clean cooking fuel; it also deepens rural poverty, indoor air pollution and biodiversity loss.
- Endemic species and ecosystem services are at risk.
Way forward
- Deforestation-free supply chains for timber, palm oil, soy, beef and cocoa.
- Universal clean cooking energy to cut fuelwood demand.
- Stronger forest governance: land-tenure security, community forestry, enforcement.
- Climate-resilient forest management and finance to close the restoration gap.
Background
- UNFF: intergovernmental body set up in 2000 under ECOSOC, with universal membership; UNDESA acts as its secretariat.
- UN Strategic Plan for Forests 2017-2030 carries 6 Global Forest Goals.
- Bonn Challenge: launched 2011 by Germany and IUCN; 150 million ha by 2020 and 350 million ha by 2030; India pledged 26 million ha.
- New York Declaration on Forests (2014): halve natural forest loss by 2020 and end it by 2030; seen as behind target.
- REDD+: UN-backed results-based finance for cutting forest emissions.
- Primary forest: naturally regenerated native forest with no visible human activity.
- Deforestation is permanent removal of cover; degradation is falling quality or function while cover remains.
Exam angle
- India forest and tree cover is about 25% of area; the National Forest Policy 1988 goal is 33%.
- SDG 15 (Life on Land) is the linked goal.
- Related terms: carbon sink, CAMPA, Joint Forest Management, Green India Mission, Ujjwala Yojana.