Global Forest Goals Report 2021

The Global Forest Goals Report 2021 is the first global assessment of where the world stands in implementing the United Nations Strategic Plan for Forests 2017–2030. It offers a snapshot of actions being taken for forests around the world, while making clear that efforts must be stepped up to meet the Plan’s 2030 deadline.

The report finds that although progress has been made in several key areas — such as increasing global forest area through afforestation and restoration — these gains are fragile. They are increasingly under pressure from deforestation, forest degradation, biodiversity loss and the broader worsening state of the natural environment.

Why this report matters

Adopted in 2017, the United Nations Strategic Plan for Forests provides a global framework to strengthen sustainable forest management, halt deforestation, and enhance the contribution of forests to sustainable development. The Global Forest Goals Report 2021 is the first opportunity to take stock of how far countries and partners have come since the Plan’s adoption.

As a baseline report, it helps answer a simple but critical question: are current actions sufficient to achieve the Global Forest Goals by 2030? By identifying both progress and persistent gaps, the report supports informed policy discussions and helps guide future action at national, regional and global levels.

Where the information comes from

The findings of the Global Forest Goals Report 2021 are based on information provided by countries and partners through existing reporting processes. These include:

• Voluntary national contributions and national reports submitted to the UN Forum on Forests

• Data and assessments produced by members of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests

• Globally available forest-related indicators aligned with the Strategic Plan’s monitoring framework

By bringing these sources together, the report provides a consolidated overview of collective progress on forests.

Format

The report has been produced in two versions: the full report provides an overview of progress towards the Global Forest Goals, including country actions taken, infographics, and success stories; and a shorter overview of progress version which highlights overall progress towards each of the six Global Forest Goals.