Forests Face 'Humpty Dumpty Effect' with $44 Trillion at Risk

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A major report released on World Environment Day 2025 warns that forests are approaching dangerous breaking points from which recovery may be impossible.

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Between 1990 and 2020, the world lost approximately 420 million hectares of forest – an area larger than India. How much more can Earth's ecosystems take?

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Global carbon emissions from forest fires have surged by 60% since 2001, pushing forests closer to collapse.

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"It's not just the trees that fall - it's a whole web of relationships between species, soil, water, and people that unravels," warns Dr. Craig Allen, expert panel chair.

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Half of the global economy - about $44 trillion - depends on nature. What happens when forest systems that support our economy fail?

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The report distinguishes between "engineering resilience" (focused on timber extraction) and "social-ecological resilience" (promoting diversity and adaptability).

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Powerful economic forces drive forest degradation: agricultural expansion for palm oil and cattle, unsustainable logging, and infrastructure development.

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Indigenous communities are often the most impacted by forest degradation, yet frequently have the least say in forest management decisions.

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"When we destabilize forests, the impacts can be felt across all regions and economies. Forests are everyone's business," says Dr. Nelson Grima of IUFRO.

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Scientists call for a shift from reactive, short-term approaches to long-term, proactive systems that address root causes of forest destruction.

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"We are at a crucial point in time right now," warns Dr. Joice Ferreira. "Once the system is disrupted, it's really very difficult to put it back together."

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