Forest Resources of the World: Present Status and Future Prospects

Global forests are the hub of many economic, social, and environmental goods and services that influence the contentment of forest-dependent rural communities, regional and national economies, and achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The extent of the forest area continues to decline at an average rate of 4.7 million hectares per year globally. Around 1.6 billion people directly depend on forest resources for their basic requirements. Forests are recognized for reducing food insecurity, addressing poverty alleviation, and enhancing agricultural and environmental sustainability sustenance of rural people across the world. In addition to the increasing population pressure, forests are also experiencing repercussions from fire, diseases and pests, invasive alien species, developmental projects, improper forest governance, and climate change. To address these issues and conserve the forests and their resources, international fora developed numerous conservation strategies as well as global forest goals. The participation of local communities is also critical in this regard, and market prices for timber and timber products must be nondiscriminatory. The maintenance of the sustainability of forests and other natural resources is possible only through participatory and collaborative forest governance.