Decades of gains in carbon storage are under threat as the climate emergency intensifies, United Nations forestry experts warned on Wednesday ahead of the COP-30 climate summit in Belém, Brazil. “The message is clear: what we have achieved over the last three decades is now at serious risk from the climate emergency. We cannot afford to lose the planet’s most powerful natural defence,” said UNECE Executive Secretary Tatiana Molcean.
According to the UNECE, carbon storage in forests has risen by 11 per cent since 1990. Across Europe, North America, the Caucasus, and Central Asia — the UNECE region — there are more than 1.76 billion hectares of forest, representing over 40 per cent of the global total and spanning boreal, temperate, and subtropical biomes. The region has expanded by 60 million hectares, with the largest growth occurring in Central Asia and Europe, while global forest loss continues at a rate of about 10.9 million hectares per year.
Rising wildfires, drought and pest outbreaks are eroding those gains. In 2021, 12.6 million hectares burned within the UNECE region, a figure Paola Deda, UNECE’s Director, Forests, Land and Housing Division, described as “comparable to an area of Greece.” Estimates indicate that about 73 million hectares have been affected by insects and diseases — an area equivalent to the combined landmass of Spain and Portugal. “If these trends continue, forests that have been a vital carbon sink could become a source of emissions, undermining global climate goals,” Deda said.
The commission’s five-yearly regional report, published today, warns that forest expansion and growth are slowing in several countries and that prolonged drought and heat are pushing ecosystems toward tipping points. It cautions that without strengthened policy action, forest-related Sustainable Development Goals with a 2030 deadline will be out of reach.
UNECE highlighted long-term protection gains: areas designated for biodiversity conservation and soil and water protection have more than doubled since 1990, and over 300 million hectares of forest now benefit from legal protection. Member States continue to implement measures to address legacy threats, such as acid rain, which has historically caused significant damage to parts of central Europe.
Arctic forests are a major concern
Boreal forests that surround the Arctic are of particular concern, storing approximately 32 per cent of global terrestrial carbon stocks and exerting a significant influence on atmospheric carbon levels. These forests are highly sensitive to warming, thawing permafrost and increasing wildfire risk and will require targeted policy responses to avoid large-scale carbon releases.
Ahead of COP-30 in Belém, which kicks off later today, UNECE urged stronger forest-protection strategies, including enhanced fire prevention and preparedness, improved pest and disease management, and large-scale restoration efforts. “The international community, especially leaders gathering in Belém, must recognise that forest protection is no longer an environmental issue – it is a cornerstone of global carbon security,” Molcean insisted. “The largest forest country in the world is not Brazil, it is Russia, so this is our first message,” Deda said, stressing that although the climate conference is in the southern hemisphere, northern-hemisphere forests are of crucial importance for global climate stability.
Please note: Wood Central will have exclusive coverage of COP30, including the establishment of the Tropical Forests Forever Fund in the coming days.
