Global Forest Cover 

What is Global Forest Cover? 

Global Forest Cover refers to the total area of land across the world that is occupied by forests. It includes natural forests, secondary forests, and plantation forests that meet internationally accepted criteria for tree height, canopy cover, and land area. 

Organizations such as the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) typically define forests as land exceeding 0.5 hectares with trees taller than 5 meters and canopy cover exceeding 10%, excluding agricultural plantations used primarily for crop production. 

Global forest cover is a key environmental indicator used to track deforestation, forest degradation, biodiversity health, and climate change impacts. 

Why is global forest cover important? 

Global forest cover plays a critical role in maintaining ecological balance and climate stability. Forest ecosystems store large amounts of carbon, regulate water cycles, support biodiversity, and provide livelihoods for millions of people. 

Monitoring global forest cover helps governments, businesses, and environmental organizations: 

• Track deforestation trends and forest loss 

• Design climate mitigation strategies 

• Protect biodiversity and wildlife habitats 

• Support sustainable land-use planning 

• Ensure responsible sourcing in agricultural and timber supply chains 

Changes in forest cover are also closely monitored to evaluate progress toward global climate and conservation commitments. 

How is global forest cover measured? 

Global forest cover is measured using a combination of satellite imagery, remote sensing technology, and national forest inventories. 

Common monitoring tools include: 

• Satellite-based forest monitoring systems 

• Geographic Information Systems (GIS) 

• Remote sensing data from Earth observation satellites 

• National forestry reports and land-use surveys 

These tools help detect tree cover extent, forest loss, and land-use change over time. Platforms such as satellite monitoring systems allow analysts to track deforestation at regional, national, and global levels. 

What is the difference between forest cover and tree cover? 

Although the terms are often used interchangeably, they represent slightly different concepts. 

Forest cover 
Refers specifically to areas classified as forests based on internationally recognized definitions that consider canopy density, tree height, and land use. 

Tree cover 
Refers more broadly to areas where trees are present, including urban trees, orchards, and plantations that may not qualify as forests under formal definitions. 

Understanding this distinction is important when interpreting deforestation statistics or environmental datasets. 

What causes changes in global forest cover? 

Several factors contribute to increases or decreases in global forest cover. 

Common drivers of forest loss include: 

• Agricultural expansion 

• Logging and timber extraction 

• Infrastructure development 

• Mining and industrial activities 

• Urbanization 

At the same time, global forest cover can increase through: 

• Reforestation programs 

• Afforestation projects 

• Natural forest regeneration 

• Sustainable forest management initiatives 

Monitoring these changes helps policymakers and companies identify high-risk regions for deforestation. 

How does global forest cover relate to deforestation regulations? 

Many international regulations and sustainability frameworks rely on global forest cover data to identify deforestation risk zones. 

For example, environmental regulations and supply chain due diligence systems may require companies to: 

• Verify whether the sourcing areas overlap with the forests 

• Check if production plots were established on land cleared after a certain cut-off date 

• Use satellite monitoring to confirm land-use history 

Global forest cover datasets help determine whether commodities such as timber, palm oil, cocoa, rubber, or soy are sourced from deforestation-free areas. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)