UN report: Only 7 of 26 Global Forest Goals on track for 2030
Synopsis
With fewer than five years left, the UN's Global Forest Goals Report 2026 reveals that only 7 of 26 forest targets have been broadly achieved, global forest cover has shrunk by over 40 million hectares in a decade, and financing gaps remain unaddressed — raising serious doubts about whether the 2030 deadline can be met.
Key Takeaways
The Global Forest Goals Report 2026 found only 7 of 26 targets broadly achieved; 17 are partially on track and 2 remain off target .
Global forest area shrank by more than 40 million hectares between 2015 and 2025 .
The report draws on voluntary national reports from 48 countries covering 51 per cent of global forest area.
Key threats include deforestation , climate change , wildfires , pests , and illegal activities .
The Global Forest Goals aim to increase global forest area by 3 per cent (roughly 120 million hectares ) by 2030 .
The report was released at the 21st session of the UN Forum on Forests at UN Headquarters .
The world is not on course to meet the Global Forest Goals by 2030, according to the Global Forest Goals Report 2026 released at the opening of the 21st session of the UN Forum on Forests at UN Headquarters. The report found that only 7 of the 26 targets have been broadly achieved, while 17 are partially on track and two remain off target.
Key Findings of the Report
Drawing on voluntary national reports from 48 countries that collectively account for 51 per cent of global forest coverage, the report offers the most current assessment of progress under the UN Strategic Plan for Forests 2017–2030. One of its starkest findings: global forest area shrank by more than 40 million hectares between 2015 and 2025. The report also flagged a major shortfall in financing for sustainable forest management, without specifying the precise funding gap.
Where Progress Has Been Made
Despite the sobering headline numbers, the report acknowledged that many countries have introduced policy reforms, expanded forest restoration programmes, strengthened governance frameworks, and increased international cooperation on forest protection. Specific improvements were cited in protected forest areas, long-term management planning, and forest monitoring systems. Progress, however, remains uneven across regions, with no single region consistently meeting all six Global Forest Goals.
Threats Continuing to Undermine Forests
The report warned that deforestation, climate change, wildfires, pests, and illegal activities continue to pose serious threats to forests worldwide. These pressures are compounding the difficulty of reversing the decade-long trend of forest loss. Notably, this report comes as the global community is less than five years away from the 2030 deadline, leaving limited time to course-correct on the majority of targets that remain unfulfilled.
Pathways to Accelerate Action
The report outlines several pathways for closing the gap, including halting deforestation, restoring degraded lands, expanding protected and sustainably managed forests, strengthening forest-related governance, and advancing innovative financing mechanisms to close the funding shortfall for sustainable forest management. These recommendations are being taken up by member states and partners gathering at the 21st session of the UN Forum on Forests.
What Are the Global Forest Goals
The Global Forest Goals are six voluntary and universal targets within the UN Strategic Plan for Forests 2017–2030, designed to halt deforestation, restore degraded forests, and promote sustainable management. They support the broader UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and seek to increase global forest area by 3 per cent — roughly 120 million hectares — by 2030. With the deadline fast approaching and the majority of targets still incomplete, the pressure on governments to dramatically scale up action has never been greater.
Point of View
Only 7 of 26 targets have been broadly achieved — a 27 per cent success rate that would be considered a failure in almost any policy domain. The 40-million-hectare forest loss since 2015 is particularly troubling because it occurred during a period of heightened global climate ambition, suggesting that pledges and policy reforms are not yet translating into outcomes on the ground. The financing gap, flagged but not quantified, points to a structural problem: forest protection competes poorly with land-use revenues in most developing economies. Without binding commitments and verifiable funding flows, the 2030 goals risk becoming another round of aspirational targets that the international community mourns rather than meets.
NationPress
12 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did the Global Forest Goals Report 2026 find?
The report found that only 7 of the 26 Global Forest Goals targets have been broadly achieved, 17 are partially on track, and 2 remain off target. It also revealed that global forest area shrank by more than 40 million hectares between 2015 and 2025.
What are the Global Forest Goals?
The Global Forest Goals are six voluntary and universal targets under the UN Strategic Plan for Forests 2017–2030, designed to halt deforestation, restore degraded forests, and promote sustainable management. They aim to increase global forest area by 3 per cent — roughly 120 million hectares — by 2030 and support the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
How many countries contributed to the 2026 report?
The report drew on voluntary national reports from 48 countries, which together account for 51 per cent of global forest coverage, alongside the latest international data.
What are the biggest threats to forests identified in the report?
The report identified deforestation, climate change, wildfires, pests, and illegal activities as the primary ongoing threats to forests worldwide. These pressures continue to undermine progress even in countries that have introduced policy reforms.
What actions does the report recommend to meet the 2030 targets?
The report recommends halting deforestation, restoring degraded lands, expanding protected and sustainably managed forests, strengthening forest governance, closing the financing gap for sustainable forest management, and developing innovative financing mechanisms.
