Rates and causes of deforestation change from region to region around the world. In 2009, two-thirds of the world's forests were found in 10 countries: Russia, Brazil, Canada, the United States, China, Australia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Indonesia, India, and Peru.

Global deforestation is estimated to cover 13.7 million hectares each year, which is about the same size as the country of Greece. Half of the area affected by deforestation includes new forests or areas where trees are growing. In addition to deforestation caused directly by humans, climate change has also impacted these growing forests. The Kyoto Protocol includes an agreement to stop deforestation, but it does not provide specific steps to achieve this goal.

Africa

By 2008, deforestation in Africa was happening at twice the world average rate, according to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Some sources say that about 90% of West Africa's original forests have already been lost. Today, deforestation is increasing quickly in Central Africa. The United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reports that Africa lost the highest percentage of tropical forests of any continent during the 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s. According to FAO data from 1997, only 22.8% of West Africa's moist forests remain, much of it damaged. Nigeria has lost 81% of its old-growth forests in just 15 years (1990–2005).

Mass deforestation threatens food supplies in some African countries. One reason for high deforestation rates is that 90% of Africa's population relies on wood for fuel. Research by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) in 2006 shows that illegal logging rates in Africa range from 50% in Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea to 80% in Liberia. Timber sales helped fund conflicts in some areas until the UN banned Liberian timber in 2003.

Deforestation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is partly caused by uncontrolled logging and mining, but mostly by the needs of poor people who depend on forests for survival. In the east of the country, more than 3 million people live within a day's walk of Virunga National Park. Wood from the park is used for firewood, building materials, and charcoal. Deforestation from farming threatens the park and the habitat of the critically endangered mountain gorilla. Between 2014 and 2018, the rate of tree-cutting in the country doubled.

In Ethiopia, the main cause of deforestation is a growing population, which increases the need for farming, raising livestock, and producing biofuel. Other reasons include low education and weak government action. However, the current government has taken steps to address deforestation. Groups like Farm Africa work with governments to improve forest management. Ethiopia has suffered from famine due to drought and resource shortages. Deforestation has worsened rainfall shortages and increased soil erosion. An Ethiopian farmer named Berkeley Bayisa explains that his area was once forested but was cleared for farming due to overpopulation.

Ethiopia has lost 98% of its forests in the last 50 years. At the start of the 20th century, about 35% of Ethiopia's land was covered in forests. Recent reports say that forests now cover less than 14.2% or even 11.9% as of 2005. Between 1990 and 2005, the country lost 14% of its forests, or 21,000 km².

In 1963, Kenya had 10% forest cover. By 2006, it had only 1.7%. Between 2000 and 2020, Kenya lost 6% of its tree cover, a total of 285,000 km².

Deforestation has caused desertification, water damage, and soil loss in about 94% of Madagascar's once-productive land. Since humans arrived 2,000 years ago, Madagascar has lost over 90% of its original forests. Most of this loss happened after independence from France, due to local people using slash-and-burn farming to grow crops.

According to the FAO, Nigeria has the highest rate of deforestation for primary forests globally. It has lost more than half of its primary forests in the last five years. Causes include logging, farming for basic needs, and collecting fuelwood. Almost 90% of West Africa's rainforest has been destroyed.

Asia

Yoichi Kuroda describes the history and current situation of large-scale land and landscape destruction caused by the demand for industrial timber and paper.

Russia has the largest forest area of any country. It has about 12 million square kilometers of boreal forest, which is larger than the Amazon rainforest. Russia's forests contain 55% of the world's conifer trees and make up 11% of Earth's total plant life. Each year, about 20,000 square kilometers (7,700 square miles) of forest are lost. Areas near China are most affected because China is a major source of timber. Deforestation in Russia is especially harmful because the forests grow slowly due to very cold winters, making it harder for the land to recover.

Deforestation in India refers to the large-scale loss of major forests. This is mainly caused by activities such as farming, ranching, logging, and tree planting by companies. In 2009, India ranked 10th globally in forest loss. Worldwide, about 13.7 million hectares (34 million acres) of forest are lost each year.

Deforestation is one of the most serious environmental problems in Sri Lanka. As of 2017, Sri Lanka had 29.7% forest cover. In the 1920s, the island had 49% forest cover, but by 2005, this had dropped to about 26%. Between 1990 and 2000, Sri Lanka lost an average of 26,800 hectares of forest each year. This was a 1.14% annual deforestation rate. Between 2000 and 2005, the rate increased to 1.43% per year. However, because of long-term environmental protection laws, deforestation rates in primary forests have decreased by 35% since the late 1990s. Deforestation is less severe in the southern mountainous regions than in northern and lowland southern areas, mainly due to stronger environmental protections.

Forest loss is severe in Southeast Asia, one of the world's major biodiversity hotspots. A 2005 report by the FAO stated that Vietnam has the second-highest rate of deforestation of primary forests, after Nigeria. More than 90% of the old-growth rainforests in the Philippine Archipelago have been cut down. Other countries in Southeast Asia with major deforestation include Cambodia and Laos. A documentary by TelePool reported that deforestation in these areas is driven by corrupt government officials and military personnel.

Deforestation in Cambodia has increased in recent years. Cambodia is a country with many forests but was not historically deforested at a high rate. However, deforestation for economic development now threatens its forests and ecosystems. As of 2015, Cambodia has one of the highest deforestation rates in the world.

Deforestation in Cambodia is directly caused by poorly managed logging, fuel wood collection, agricultural expansion, and infrastructure development. Indirect causes include rapid population growth, unequal land ownership, lack of farming technology, and limited job opportunities.

The Cambodian government has a major role in how forests are used. Over 38% (more than 7 million hectares) of Cambodia's land is designated as protected areas and wildlife corridors. However, many of these protections have been ignored as land is sold to companies for farming and mining, even in national parks.

The Cambodian government has faced criticism from both local and international groups for these conflicting policies and for not enforcing environmental laws. These actions affect local communities that depend on forests for their livelihoods. About 80% of Cambodia's population lives in rural areas.

Cambodia's primary forest cover dropped from over 70% in 1970 to just 3.1% in 2007, when less than 3,220 square kilometers of primary forest remained. Deforestation has accelerated since the 1990s, with nearly 75% of forest loss occurring after that time. Between 1990 and 2005, Cambodia lost 25,000 square kilometers of forest, including 3,340 square kilometers of primary forest. As of 2016, 87,424 square kilometers of forest remained, with 28,612 square kilometers being evergreen forest. The future of Cambodia's forests is at serious risk.

As of 2008, at current rates, rainforests in Indonesia could be completely logged within 10 years, and those in Papua New Guinea within 13 to 16 years.

In 2005, Indonesia had lost over 72% of its intact forests and 40% of all forests. Illegal logging occurred in 37 out of 41 national parks. Illegal logging costs up to $4 billion each year. The lowland forests of Sumatra and Borneo were at risk of disappearing by 2022. Reports from Transparency International raised concerns about the fairness of court decisions related to deforestation.

Deforestation in Malaysia has happened on an industrial scale. Malaysia is a country with many tropical rainforests. In British Malaya, deforestation began in 1880 due to the growth of commercial rubber and palm oil farming. Between 1990 and 2010, Malaysia lost about 8.6% of its forest cover, or around 1,920,000 hectares (4,700,000 acres). Logging and land clearing have been driven by the palm oil industry. World Bank policies in the 1970s encouraged palm oil expansion, and an IMF bailout after the 1998 economic crisis further promoted palm plantations. In recent years, conservation efforts have tried to protect Malaysia's forests and reduce deforestation.

Deforestation in Myanmar (also known as Burma) reduced forest cover from 70% of the country in 1948 to 48% by 2014. Myanmar has the largest tropical forest area in mainland Southeast Asia,

Europe

Over the past 6,000 years, Europe has lost more than half of its forests. This loss has mainly happened because of farming and the need for wood to use as fuel. Satellite data shows that the loss of plant life in EU forests increased by 69% from 2016 to 2018 compared to the years 2011 to 2015.

Deforestation contributes 6% of Finland’s total greenhouse gas emissions. Each year, about 19,000 hectares of forests are cut down for buildings, roads, and farmland. The government led by Prime Minister Antti Rinne proposed a tax on building in forests, but this tax was not in place in August 2019.

Forest management in Finland has caused a large amount of carbon to be released into the atmosphere from forests and wetlands.

Before deforestation began in Iceland during the Middle Ages, about 40% of the land was covered in forests. Today, only about 2% of Iceland is forested, and the Icelandic Forest Service aims to increase this to 10% through reforestation and natural regrowth. Iceland has experienced major deforestation since Scandinavian settlers arrived in the ninth century. At that time, about 25% of Iceland’s land was covered in birch forests and woodlands. Settlers cut down trees and burned shrubs to create farmland and grazing areas. Deforestation in Iceland continued until the middle of the 20th century. Small areas of land have been restored through planting trees and allowing plants to grow naturally. However, farming was the main reason forests did not return.

Historically, Ireland was covered in temperate rainforests, with 80% of the island under tree cover. Humans began cutting down trees during the Bronze Age, and deforestation increased greatly during British colonial rule, especially in the 16th and 17th centuries. Large areas of forests were cleared to create farmland and to provide timber for British shipbuilding. Tree cover reached its lowest point at 1.5% at the start of the 20th century due to industrial sawmills. After Ireland gained independence, the government encouraged reforestation, increasing tree cover to 12% today. This is still among the lowest percentages in Europe, where the average is 39%.

Sicily is often cited as an example of human-caused deforestation, which began during Roman times when the island became an agricultural area and has continued to the present day. Deforestation changed the climate, reducing rainfall and drying up rivers. Today, most of the central and southwest regions of Sicily have no forests. This has also harmed wildlife, with few animals remaining in the island’s pastures and farmland.

The Netherlands once had forests and wetlands, but deforestation has reduced these areas. Remaining forests and wetlands are carefully managed by the Dutch government, with strict rules in place. These areas are also protected through national parks and other conservation efforts.

Nearly all forests in the UK have been turned into farmland over centuries. As of 2021, 13.2% (3.2 million hectares) of the UK is woodland, an increase from 12% in 1998. However, much of this growth comes from non-native tree species. A peaceful, rolling landscape has replaced the image of true forests in the minds of many people in the UK.

North America

Deforestation is a complex problem that affects both the environment and society in Haiti. Recent national research on charcoal shows that about 946,500 metric tons of charcoal are produced and used each year in Haiti. This makes charcoal production the second-largest agricultural activity in the country and contributes about 5% of Haiti's total economic value.

The history of most Central American countries includes repeated cycles of losing and regaining forest cover. By the 15th century, farming by the Maya people had greatly reduced forest areas. Before Europeans arrived, forests covered about 500,000 square kilometers, or 90% of the region. Later, the introduction of European economic systems created a need for exporting raw materials, which required clearing large areas of land for farming. Since the 1960s, cattle ranching has been the main reason for clearing land. Grass-fed cattle from Central American ranches were well-suited for American fast-food restaurants, linking consumer habits in North America to deforestation in Central America.

In 2005, about 56,000 hectares of land were deforested in Canada. This represented less than 0.02% of Canada's total forest area. Over half of the deforestation was due to agriculture, as forests were cleared for farming or grazing. The remaining deforestation was caused by urban development (19%), hydroelectric projects (10%), the forest industry (10%), and other natural resource activities (8%). Two-thirds of this deforestation occurred in Canada's boreal forest, mainly in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, where forests meet the Prairies.

Before 2000, less than 8% of Canada's boreal forest was protected from development, and more than 50% of the forest was assigned to logging companies for cutting trees.

In British Columbia, deforestation has led to a net loss of 1.06 million hectares (2.6 million acres) of tree cover between 2000 and 2020. Traditional forest loss has worsened due to increased wildfires from climate change, more human activity, and invasive species. Efforts like the Zero Net Deforestation Act aim to slow the loss of forest cover. In British Columbia, forests cover over 55 million hectares, or 57.9% of the province's total land area. Most of these forests are made up of coniferous trees, such as pines, spruces, and firs.

In 1600, before European settlers arrived in what is now the United States, about half of the land area—roughly 4,000,000 square kilometers—was covered in forests. Over the next 300 years, land was cleared mainly for farming, at a rate that matched population growth. For each person added to the population, one to two hectares of land were used for farming. This trend continued until the 1920s, when the amount of farmland remained stable despite growing populations. As farmland was abandoned and turned back into forests, forestland increased starting in 1952, reaching a peak in 1963 at 3,080,000 square kilometers. Since 1963, forest area has steadily decreased, except for some increases after 1997.

Oceania

Australia has experienced high levels of deforestation since colonization, mainly because forests were cleared for farming. Since colonization began, about 50% of Australia's rainforests have been cleared, and overall forest cover has decreased by more than one-third. In 2007, new laws were introduced to help reduce deforestation rates.

In 1998, deforestation was responsible for about 12% of Australia's total carbon emissions. Between 2000 and 2015, emissions from land clearing dropped by 64%.

Another reason for forest loss is the growth of cities. Rainforests near the coasts of eastern Australia are now rare because of development along coastlines to meet the needs of people wanting to live near the sea.

Over 800 years of human activity in New Zealand led to the loss of 75% of its forests. At first, large areas were burned by the British. Remaining forests were cut down for wood to support the growing population. By 2000, logging of native trees on public land was stopped. Logging on private land is now allowed only with permits and follows the Resource Management Act.

Papua New Guinea is home to one of the world's largest rainforests. In 2007, illegal logging in the country was among the highest globally, with about 70–90% of all timber exports coming from illegal sources.

South America

The Amazon rainforest covers about 3 million square kilometers (1.2 million square miles) and is the largest rainforest in the world. It includes the most diverse tropical rainforest on Earth and makes up more than half of all rainforests globally. The Amazon region is part of nine countries, with Brazil having the largest share (60%), followed by Peru (13%), Colombia (10%), and smaller parts in Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia (6%), Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana. More than one-third of the Amazon is protected as indigenous land, covering over 3,344 territories. For many years, indigenous people in the Amazon have used the forest for food, shelter, water, clothing, and medicine. The forest is also important to their spiritual and cultural beliefs. However, in recent years, the Amazon has been cut down because of cattle farming and soybean farming. Soybean farming has caused a lot of forest loss, with production growing more than three times in some areas. Although soy is often grown on land already cleared for cattle, new soy farming areas directly destroy forests. A rule called the 2006 Soy Moratorium, which stopped buying soy from newly deforested areas, is now becoming less effective.

Deforestation is slower in indigenous territories because legal efforts to protect land have reduced deforestation by 75% in Peru. By 2022, about 26% of the Amazon was deforested or severely damaged. According to the Council on Foreign Relations, 300,000 square miles of the Amazon have been lost. The Food and Agriculture Organization reports that about 10 million hectares of forests worldwide are lost each year. Between 2010 and 2020, the world lost 4.7 million hectares of forests annually.

Cattle ranching in the Brazilian Amazon is the main cause of deforestation, responsible for about 80% of forest loss in the region. This makes it the largest single cause of deforestation globally, contributing to 14% of all forest loss worldwide. Government tax money has supported much of the farming that causes deforestation. By 1995, 70% of the Amazon’s former forest land and 91% of the land deforested since 1970 had been turned into cattle ranches. Other causes include large-scale farming for crops like soy and palm oil, as well as small farmers encouraged by government policies to move into forests. In 2011, soy farming was linked to about 15% of deforestation in the Amazon.

Satellite data from 2018 showed the highest rate of deforestation in the Amazon in a decade, with about 7,900 square kilometers (3,100 square miles) lost between August 2017 and July 2018. The states of Mato Grosso and Pará had the most deforestation during this time. Illegal logging was named as a cause by the Brazilian environment minister, while others pointed to farming expansion as the main reason. Scientists warn that the Amazon may reach a point where it can no longer create enough rain to support itself.

In May 2025, research from the University of Maryland’s GLAD Lab, shared through the World Resources Institute’s Global Forest Watch, found that global forest loss reached record highs in 2024. Loss of tropical primary forests reached 6.7 million hectares—nearly twice the amount lost in 2023 and about the size of Panama. Brazil was responsible for 42% of tropical primary forest loss, mostly due to fires from the country’s worst drought on record. Fires caused 66% of Brazil’s forest loss in 2024, a more than sixfold increase from 2023. The Amazon had its highest tree cover loss since 2016.

There is no agreement on the main causes of deforestation in Brazil, but most experts agree that expanding farmland and pastures is a major factor. Higher prices for goods like soybeans may increase deforestation. A new type of soybean has led to the movement of beef ranches and other farms farther into the forest. Some areas, like the Atlantic Rainforest, have been reduced to just 7% of their original size. Although conservation efforts have been made, few national parks or reserves are properly protected. About 80% of logging in the Amazon is illegal.

In 2008, Brazil reported a record rate of deforestation in the Amazon. Deforestation increased by 69% in 2008 compared to 2007, according to official data. A 2007 report from WWF warned that deforestation could destroy or severely harm nearly 60% of the Amazon by 2030.

Bolivia has the 13th largest share of the world’s forest cover. In 2015, its primary forest area was 36.2 million hectares, the 13th largest in the world and 2.8% of the global total. Bolivia also has the seventh largest tropical rainforest. As of 2013, forests covered 51.4 million hectares, or 46.8% of Bolivia’s total land area. Both primary forests and overall forest cover have decreased in recent years.

Between 2006 and 2010, Bolivia lost about 200,000 hectares of rainforest each year due to cattle ranching, large-scale farming, and small-scale agriculture. Demand for Bolivian agricultural products has grown because of its connection to international markets. Brazilian companies and farmers have invested heavily in Bolivia, increasing their control over land and contributing to deforestation. The Tierras Bajas region in eastern Bolivia, where a World Bank project was built, has seen major deforestation from large soybean plantations owned by foreign landowners.

Colonization efforts have also caused deforestation in Bolivia. Since the 1960s, people from the Andes, America, and Japan have moved to the Bolivian lowlands, encouraged by the government. Cheap land and fertile soil attracted these settlers, who helped expand farming and increased deforestation by 60% from the 1980s to the 1990s.

In recent years, the growth of coca leaf farming has spread in Bolivia. To make space for these plantations, large areas of forest have been cleared using slash-and-burn methods. It is estimated that 4 hectares of forest must be cleared to grow 1 hectare of coca.

Illegal logging and forest fires are also major causes of deforestation in Bolivia. Illegal logging has happened even in protected areas like the Isiboro Secure National Park and Indigenous Territory (TIPNIS). In 2011, protests stopped the construction of a highway that would have made it easier to access TIPNIS. Bolivia’s road network is still limited, but as the country develops, more roads might increase deforestation and give illegal loggers better access to forests.

The final figure (2.8%) represents the percentage of the world’s total forest cover in Bolivia in 2015.

Source: MMAyA-OTCA, summarized by Andersen et al. 2016:S1.

Despite modern views of the Atacama Desert as completely without vegetation in pre-Hispanic and Colonial times, a flat area called Pampa del