Forests

Forests are globally important in regulating climate and locally important in sustaining communities and supporting biodiversity. But they, and the people who depend on them, are under increasing pressure.

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Forests bring hope

for new life

500 million

hectares show potential for forest landscape restoration

from old life

up to 70 %

more CO2 sequestered by primary forests than degraded forests

for our lives

2.4 billion

people depend on forests and wood for energy

How we engage

IUCN works to build sustainable landscapes, protect primary forests and advance the rights of forest communities. Through its forest initiatives, IUCN helps countries implement effective forest and land-use policies, achieve national priorities and meet international commitments on climate change, biodiversity and land degradation.

News

Photo: IUCN

Region targets 30 million hectares for restoration
25.09.2019
A new call to bring 30 million hectares of degraded and deforested landscapes into restoration in Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia by 2030 in support of the Bonn Challenge announced at Climate Action Summit.
Photo: ©IUCN/Amit Poudyal

Securing forest and farm enterprises through risk management and business incubation
23.09.2019
To build the capacities of smallholder forest and farm producers on managing risks and improving their businesses, the Forest and Farm Facility (FFF) programme organised a six-day regional training-of-trainers on risk management and business incubation for...
Photo: WCEL

Can producing cocoa help Colombia achieve its climate targets?
23.09.2019
Colombia holds significant potential to combat climate change by establishing forestry and agroforestry systems on degraded land. Opportunities for restoration can also be found through improvements to pasture and cattle management as well as the...