UN Report States Progress Towards Global Forest Targets is Insufficient

The United Nations (ANTARA) - The world is not moving quickly enough to achieve the Global Forest Goals by 2030, according to a summary of a United Nations (UN) report released on Monday (11/5). The Global Forest Goals Report 2026 found that only seven of the 26 targets have generally been achieved, while 17 targets are partially on track and two are off target. Based on voluntary national reports from 48 countries covering 51 per cent of global forest cover, as well as the latest international data, the report provides an up-to-date assessment of progress in implementing the UN Strategic Plan for Forests 2017-2030 and its six Global Forest Targets. The report reveals that the global forest area has shrunk by more than 40 million hectares from 2015 to 2025. It also highlights major shortcomings in funding for sustainable forest management. Despite these constraints, many countries have implemented policy reforms, expanded forest restoration programmes, strengthened governance, and increased international cooperation in forest protection. However, progress is still uneven across regions. The report notes increases in protected forest areas, long-term management planning, and forest monitoring systems, but warns that deforestation, climate change, forest fires, pests, and illegal activities continue to threaten forests worldwide. The report outlines steps to accelerate action, including halting deforestation, restoring degraded land, expanding protected forests and sustainably managed forests, strengthening forest governance, closing funding gaps for sustainable forest management, and advancing innovative financing mechanisms. The report was released at the opening of the 21st session of the UN Forum on Forests at UN Headquarters, as member states and partners gather to advance the implementation of the Global Forest Targets.