Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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October 21, 2025 Climate and environment
Deforestation rates are declining globally, but forest ecosystems remain under significant pressure, according to a new report. Global Forest Resources Assessment The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reports that forests cover 4.14 billion hectares, or about a third of the planet's land area. More than half of the world's forests are concentrated in just five countries: Russia, Brazil, Canada, the United States, and China.
FAO notes that despite positive trends, ecosystems remain under threat Due to fires, diseases, and extreme weather conditions, the report found that in 2020, approximately 41 million hectares of forests were damaged by insects, diseases, and strong winds, primarily in temperate and boreal latitudes.
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Every year humanity still losing approximately 10.9 million hectares of forest, although this figure has declined significantly since the 1990s. The rate of net forest loss worldwide has been slowing primarily due to significant expansion of forest cover in Canada, China, Russia, and the United States.
Russia: The largest forested area on the planet
The Russian Federation accounts for the largest share of the planet's forests—20 percent. Forests occupy more than half of the country's territory. In 2025, Russia's forest area was estimated at over 832 million hectares, compared to 811 million in 1990. Almost 98 percent of Russia's forests are of natural origin.
According to the report, the forests of the Russian Federation are mainly in the boreal zone and have a natural level of biodiversity—they represent benchmarks for population, species, and ecosystem diversity. They can be considered a resource for restoring damaged biodiversity, the authors note. Russian forests provide a variety of services, from providing timber to the forest complex to non-timber forest resources and various ecosystem services.
Central Asia: Stable performance
In Uzbekistan, forest area increased from 2.55 to 3.89 million hectares between 1990 and 2023, accounting for approximately 9 percent of the country's territory. In Kazakhstan, forests occupy approximately 1 percent of the territory, remaining stable, with a slight increase from 3.16 million hectares in 1990 to 3.52 million hectares in 2025.
In Turkmenistan, forest area is estimated at 2.33 million hectares, or 5 percent of the country's territory. In Kyrgyzstan, forests cover 1.26 million hectares, or approximately 7 percent of the country's territory. In Tajikistan, forest cover covers 425,000 hectares (approximately 3 percent of the country's territory). In these countries, forest area has remained virtually unchanged since the 1990s.
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