World losing 10 million hectares of tropical forest each year, UN warns
The UN Office at Geneva issued a stark warning on Monday about the ongoing destruction of tropical forests, reporting that the world is losing 10 million hectares annually. It urged governments to use the COP30 climate summit as a turning point to halt deforestation.
In a message posted on the U.S.-based social media platform X, the office emphasized that each hectare lost “means less biodiversity, weaker climate resilience, and greater risks for communities.”
The UN noted that COP30 — taking place from Nov. 10 to Nov. 21 — offers a critical chance for countries to move beyond promises and take concrete, urgent action. “COP30 is an opportunity to stop deforestation and invest in the recovery of nature,” it said.
Tropical forests play a key role in absorbing carbon, regulating regional rainfall patterns, and hosting the majority of the planet’s terrestrial species. Their destruction increases the likelihood of extreme weather events, weakens natural carbon sinks, and leaves vulnerable communities at even greater risk from climate impacts.
