About one-third of forests lost worldwide since 2001 won’t grow back, new research shows, according to a World Resources Institute report. The WRI and Google DeepMind analysis found that 34% of global tree cover loss between 2001 and 2024 stems from permanent changes like farming, mining, and development. In tropical rainforests, the picture looks worse—61% of loss is permanent.
Forest tracking has focused on where trees disappear, but scientists lacked details on why. The new data uses AI and satellite images to map specific causes of forest loss across different regions, offering governments and groups better tools to fight deforestation.
According to the report, agriculture drives most permanent forest loss globally, making up 95% of the 177 million hectares cleared. “We’ve long known where forests are being lost. Now we better understand why,” said Michelle Sims, WRI research associate. Even forests that regrow after logging or fires may never return to full health, storing less carbon and supporting fewer species than before.
Regional patterns vary widely. Latin America and Southeast Asia lose forests mainly to farming, while wildfires and logging dominate in Russia and North America. Europe sees 91% of tree loss from planned timber harvests in managed forests.
The research comes as countries work toward a 2030 deforestation deadline. WRI recommends stronger land rights for local communities, better forest management, and policies that account for regional differences in how and why forests disappear.
