WWF Targets

By 2012, emission reductions from deforestation are included in a post-2012 climate treaty
By 2012, 6 to 8 key countries have national strategies in place to reduce deforestation
By 2020, no net greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation and degradation

Facts & Figures

12-15 million hectares of forest are lost each year
Deforestation is responsible for 15% of all greenhouse gas emissions globally
Tropical forests, where deforestation is most prevalent, holds more than 210 gigatonnes of carbon
87% of global deforestation occurs in just 10 countries, with Brazil and Indonesia accounting for 51% of emissions from forest loss

Deforestation causes climate change

Forests are the lungs of the Earth, helping to regulate climate. When forests are destroyed they release large quantities of CO₂ into the atmosphere, a major contributor to climate change. WWF's Forest Carbon Initiative is working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation to benefit climate, forests, biodiversity and people.

Cloud and rain in the canopy of a tropical rainforest in the Amazon. South America

Loggers clearing a swamp forest for a palm oil plantation. (Illegal logging) Central Kalimantan, Indonesia.

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Protect trees, reduce carbon emissions

Forests are the largest storehouse of carbon, after coal and oil.

However, when forests are destroyed by activities such as logging and land conversion for agriculture, they release large quantities of CO₂ and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

Reducing deforestation and forest degradation must be part of the solution to the global climate change problem.

Winning the fight against climate change

Forests have a critical role to play in combating global warming. And WWF's Forest Carbon Initiative has a strategy to win that battle. This includes:

ensuring that any new climate change deal provides incentives to reduce emissions from deforestation and land degradation
assisting countries, especially developing countries, develop national and regional approaches that tackle forest-based emissions and benefit local communities

Saving the Amazon forests

Aerial view of forest clearing to create grazing pasture for cattle. Amazon, Brazil.

Despite ongoing conservation efforts, the Amazon is losing on average 27,000km2 of forest cover each year from continued logging, mining and land conversion.

Further forest loss may trigger changes to the Amazon, including a reduction in rainfall and increased droughts. This will have a significant impact on the region's biodiversity and even global climate change.

To protect the Amazon, WWF is:

Developing national programmes for reducing emissions from deforestation
Promoting the responsible use of natural resources
Ensuring environmental and social standards for infrastructure development
Consolidating and expanding protected areas

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