By Steven Grattan
SAO PAULO (Reuters) – A report released on Monday by a coalition of environmental organizations reveals that the world is not moving fast enough to fulfill its pledge to end deforestation by 2030. In fact, deforestation worsened in 2022 compared to the previous year.
At the 2021 United Nations climate summit in Glasgow, over 140 countries, which represent the majority of the world’s woodlands, made a commitment to halt and reverse forest loss and degradation by the end of the decade.
However, the report titled “Forest Declaration Assessment” states that deforestation increased by 4% worldwide in 2022, resulting in the destruction of approximately 66,000 square kilometers (25,000 square miles) of forests. This means that the world is currently 21% off track in meeting the goal of ending deforestation by 2030.
“The world’s forests are in crisis. The opportunity to make progress is passing us by,” said Erin Matson, a senior consultant at the environmental group Climate Focus.
The Forest Declaration Assessment report was conducted by a coalition of civil society and research organizations that monitor progress towards the 2030 deforestation elimination pledge. This includes the commitments made in Glasgow and the 2014 New York Declaration on Forests, which involved a smaller group of countries and numerous major companies.
The study also revealed that efforts to protect old-growth tropical forests, which are valued for their high carbon content and diverse biodiversity, are currently 33% behind schedule. In 2022 alone, 4.1 million hectares of such forests were lost.
During a news briefing, the researchers emphasized that the annual $2.2 billion in public funds allocated to forest protection projects is insufficient and falls far short of the necessary investment.
Additionally, the report examined forest degradation alongside deforestation. According to Climate Focus, the area of degraded forests is much larger than the area of global deforestation. Activities such as logging, livestock grazing, and road construction contribute to forest degradation.
However, there are regions making progress in the fight against deforestation. Franziska Haupt, a lead author and managing partner at consultancy Climate Focus, highlighted around 50 countries that are on track to end forest loss. Notably, Brazil, Indonesia, and Malaysia have seen significant reductions in deforestation.
“Hope isn’t lost,” Haupt commented. “These countries serve as clear examples that others must follow.”
Brazil, responsible for approximately 30% of global deforestation, has experienced a noteworthy turnaround with its new government’s increased commitment to combating deforestation, as noted by a representative from WWF Brazil during the news conference.
“This showcases what could happen when countries with strong legislation actually invest in its enforcement,” commented Darragh Conway, lead on rights & governance for the Forest Declaration Assessment.
(Reporting by Steven Grattan; Editing by Jake Spring, Katy Daigle, and Chizu Nomiyama)
