forests

Forests cover 4.14 billion hectares, about 32% of the world's land, per FAO's 2025 assessment. Russia, Brazil, Canada, the United States and China hold more than half. Ranked by area and by share of land, with what the numbers miss.

The world clears about 10.9 million hectares of forest a year, slightly more than the area of Iceland. Here is what drives it, what it costs the climate, and which fixes have measurable results.