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UNEP Report Highlights 391 Million Hectares of High-Risk Tropical Forests Vital for Climate, Water, Food, and Livelihoods.

International | Dated: 19 Oct 2025

In October 2025, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) released its report “High-risk forests, high-value returns”, identifying 391 million hectares of tropical forests at high risk of deforestation. The report emphasizes that protecting these forests delivers critical climate, ecological, and socio-economic benefits while supporting global climate commitments like REDD+.

🎯 Key Highlights:

  • - High-risk tropical forests cover 391 million ha (~1/4 of global tropical forest area), storing high levels of carbon and providing additional ecosystem services. Conserving them supports climate mitigation and aligns with UN-REDD+ targets of 1 GtCO₂e annual emission reductions.
  • - These forests prevent approximately 2.3 million tonnes of nitrogen pollutants and 527 million tonnes of sediment from entering rivers annually. This reduces soil erosion, protects agricultural productivity, and safeguards infrastructure.
  • - High-risk forests recycle 10–14% of local rainfall, maintaining regional precipitation patterns and contributing to climate stability.

💡 Other Important Facts:

  • (i) Forest conservation supports crop pollination, sustaining yields that feed about 10 million people annually. Across all pantropical forests, pollination-supported crops meet the nutritional needs of 18 million people each year.
  • (ii) Protecting these forests provides around 111 million tonnes of fuelwood annually and delivers non-timber forest products (NTFPs) like fruits, nuts, medicinal plants, and fibres. Approximately 25 million materially poor people depend on these forests for sustenance and local trade.
  • (iii) High-risk forests stabilize soil, regulate water flow, and buffer extreme weather, reducing floods, landslides, and storms. Conserving them prevents an estimated USD 81 billion in annual GDP losses and safeguards lives, communities, and infrastructure.

📚 Test Your Knowledge:

In October 2025, UNEP released a report highlighting how many hectares of tropical forests at high risk of deforestation?

Correct Answer: 391 million ha

🚀 Quick Recap: