The state of the world's forests 2024

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Recent data indicate a significant reduction in deforestation in some countries. But climate change is making forests more vulnerable to stressors such as wildfire and pests.

Projections indicate large increases in wood demand by 2050. Nearly three-quarters of the world’s population uses non-timber forest products.

More innovation is needed in the forest sector, driven by escalating forest stressors, necessitating new forest management approaches; the shift towards a bioeconomy; and opportunities offered by non-wood forest products.

Four factors form barriers to scaling up innovation in the forest sector: (1) lack of innovation culture; (2) risk; (3) potential limitations in various forms of capital; and (4) unsupportive policies and regulations.

Five enabling actions will help scale up responsible and inclusive – and essential – innovation in the forest sector: (1) raise awareness; (2) boost innovation skills, capabilities and knowledge; (3) encourage transformational partnerships; (4) ensure more and universally accessible finance for innovation; and (5) provide an incentivizing policy and regulatory environment.

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This flagship publication is part of The State of the World series of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

Required citation:
FAO. 2024. The State of the World’s Forests 2024 – Forest-sector innovations towards a more sustainable future. Rome, https://doi.org/10.4060/cd1211en

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ISSN 1020-5705 (print)
ISSN 2521-7542 (online)
ISBN 978-92-5-138867-9
© FAO, 2024

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COVER PHOTOGRAPH © Shutterstock.com/khlongwangchao

THAILAND. New growth from a tree stump.