Ten of the Most Important Forests Worldwide
Amazon Rainforest (1/10)
Size: 5,5 million sq km / 2,1 million sq mi
The territory of the Amazon Rainforest stretches across nine countries, representing over half of the world’s remaining rainforests. About 70 per cent of the total forest area is in Brazil and Peru. Heavy logging in the past decades reduced the original forest area of about 7 million sq km to 5,5 million sq km.
The Amazon Rainforest hosts a wealth of biodiversity and valuable freshwater resources. It does not only play a crucial role for global biodiversity conservation, but also provides essential ecological services as a carbon sink. (Photo: Shutterstock)
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Amazon Rainforest (1/10)
Size: 5,5 million sq km / 2,1 million sq mi
The territory of the Amazon Rainforest stretches across nine countries, representing over half of the world’s remaining rainforests. About 70 per cent of the total forest area is in Brazil and Peru. Heavy logging in the past decades reduced the original forest area of about 7 million sq km to 5,5 million sq km.
The Amazon Rainforest hosts a wealth of biodiversity and valuable freshwater resources. It does not only play a crucial role for global biodiversity conservation, but also provides essential ecological services as a carbon sink. (Photo: Shutterstock)
Ten of the Most Important Forests Worldwide
Canada (2/10)
Size: 4,2 million sq km / 1,6 million sq mi
Forests in Canada occupy 4,2 million sq km and cover almost half of the country’s territory. A great variety of forest types stretch from the Pacific to the Atlantic coast and up to the Arctic tree line in the north. The northern boreal forests, the largest contiguous intact forests left on Earth, cover more than one third of the Canada’s land mass.
Commercial logging, mining, and hydroelectric generation pose big threats to Canada’s forests. About 4,000 sq km are logged every year. Canada is also the world’s most important exporter of paper products, responsible for more than a quarter of the world’s paper exports. (Photo: Reuters)
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Canada (2/10)
Size: 4,2 million sq km / 1,6 million sq mi
Forests in Canada occupy 4,2 million sq km and cover almost half of the country’s territory. A great variety of forest types stretch from the Pacific to the Atlantic coast and up to the Arctic tree line in the north. The northern boreal forests, the largest contiguous intact forests left on Earth, cover more than one third of the Canada’s land mass.
Commercial logging, mining, and hydroelectric generation pose big threats to Canada’s forests. About 4,000 sq km are logged every year. Canada is also the world’s most important exporter of paper products, responsible for more than a quarter of the world’s paper exports. (Photo: Reuters)
Ten of the Most Important Forests Worldwide
East-Siberian Taiga (3/10)
Size: 3,9 million sq km / 1,5 million sq mi
The coniferous forests in East-Siberia, called “Taiga” in Russian, stretch across 3,9 million sq km between Tundra in the north and temperate mixed forests in the South. Flora and Fauna have to withstand enormous temperature variations between 100° F (40° C) in the summer and -80° F ( -62° C) in the winter.
With more than 8 million sq km (3,1 mio. sq mi) covered by forests, an area that is almost twice as big as the European Union, Russia has more forest area than any other country and over one fifth of the world’s forest reserves. (Photo: Shutterstock)
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East-Siberian Taiga (3/10)
Size: 3,9 million sq km / 1,5 million sq mi
The coniferous forests in East-Siberia, called “Taiga” in Russian, stretch across 3,9 million sq km between Tundra in the north and temperate mixed forests in the South. Flora and Fauna have to withstand enormous temperature variations between 100° F (40° C) in the summer and -80° F ( -62° C) in the winter.
With more than 8 million sq km (3,1 mio. sq mi) covered by forests, an area that is almost twice as big as the European Union, Russia has more forest area than any other country and over one fifth of the world’s forest reserves. (Photo: Shutterstock)
Ten of the Most Important Forests Worldwide
USA (4/10)
Size: 3 million sq km / 1,2 million sq mi
3 million sq km of forest cover the United States. The large tracts of forest in the U.S. provide habitat for far-ranging species like elk, buffalo, and wolves. Among the U.S.’s most important forests are the Sierra Nevada conifer forests. They are home to a great variety of conifers including the Giant Sequoia, the world's largest tree.
Currently, forest cover in the U.S. is stable. However, within the last two centuries, about 20 per cent of North American forests have been cleared and as human populations grow, forest fragmentation and degradation continues. (Photo: Shutterstock)
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USA (4/10)
Size: 3 million sq km / 1,2 million sq mi
3 million sq km of forest cover the United States. The large tracts of forest in the U.S. provide habitat for far-ranging species like elk, buffalo, and wolves. Among the U.S.’s most important forests are the Sierra Nevada conifer forests. They are home to a great variety of conifers including the Giant Sequoia, the world's largest tree.
Currently, forest cover in the U.S. is stable. However, within the last two centuries, about 20 per cent of North American forests have been cleared and as human populations grow, forest fragmentation and degradation continues. (Photo: Shutterstock)
Ten of the Most Important Forests Worldwide
Scandinavian and Russian Taiga (5/10)
Size: 2,16 million sq km / 834,000 sq mi
The Scandinavian and Russian Taiga, the largest ecoregion in Europe, occupies about 2,1 million sq km in Finland, Norway, Sweden, and parts of Western Russia and covers almost one third of Europe.
It is of global ecological significance because it locks billions of tons of carbon dioxide and provides excellent nesting habitat for many birds. Fossil fuel exploration, logging, mining, and increasing tourism are heavily threatening this ecoregion. Finland and Scandinavia also tail Canada as the world’s most important exporters of paper-products. (Photo: Shutterstock)
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Scandinavian and Russian Taiga (5/10)
Size: 2,16 million sq km / 834,000 sq mi
The Scandinavian and Russian Taiga, the largest ecoregion in Europe, occupies about 2,1 million sq km in Finland, Norway, Sweden, and parts of Western Russia and covers almost one third of Europe.
It is of global ecological significance because it locks billions of tons of carbon dioxide and provides excellent nesting habitat for many birds. Fossil fuel exploration, logging, mining, and increasing tourism are heavily threatening this ecoregion. Finland and Scandinavia also tail Canada as the world’s most important exporters of paper-products. (Photo: Shutterstock)
Ten of the Most Important Forests Worldwide
Congo Basin Forest (6/10)
Size: 1,8 million sq km / 700,000 sq mi
The Congo Basin Forest is the second largest tropical forest worldwide and represents a quarter of the world’s remaining tropical forests, covering more than 1,8 million sq km in six countries. It is home to more than 10,000 plant species, 1,000 species of birds, and hundreds of mammals, including three of the world’s four species of great apes: The Gorilla, Bonobo, and Chimpanzee.
The Congo basin forest plays a crucial role not only for global biodiversity, but also for the 24 million people living in the area, many of whom depend on the forest for their livelihood. (Photo: Reuters)
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Congo Basin Forest (6/10)
Size: 1,8 million sq km / 700,000 sq mi
The Congo Basin Forest is the second largest tropical forest worldwide and represents a quarter of the world’s remaining tropical forests, covering more than 1,8 million sq km in six countries. It is home to more than 10,000 plant species, 1,000 species of birds, and hundreds of mammals, including three of the world’s four species of great apes: The Gorilla, Bonobo, and Chimpanzee.
The Congo basin forest plays a crucial role not only for global biodiversity, but also for the 24 million people living in the area, many of whom depend on the forest for their livelihood. (Photo: Reuters)
Ten of the Most Important Forests Worldwide
Mexico (7/10)
Size: 604,000 sq km / 233,000 sq mi
Forests cover one-fourth of Mexico’s total land area, stretching over 604,000 sq km across the country. Mexico harbors the most diverse temperate and tropical forests and the highest number of pine and oak trees in the world.
As one of the twelve megadiverse countries in the world, Mexico hosts about half of all animal and plant species. Its forests support a vast array of plant and animal species, including the highest diversity of reptile species in the world. However, urbanization, increasing tourism, and exploitation of wildlife are big threats to Mexico’s forests. (Photo: Shutterstock)
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Mexico (7/10)
Size: 604,000 sq km / 233,000 sq mi
Forests cover one-fourth of Mexico’s total land area, stretching over 604,000 sq km across the country. Mexico harbors the most diverse temperate and tropical forests and the highest number of pine and oak trees in the world.
As one of the twelve megadiverse countries in the world, Mexico hosts about half of all animal and plant species. Its forests support a vast array of plant and animal species, including the highest diversity of reptile species in the world. However, urbanization, increasing tourism, and exploitation of wildlife are big threats to Mexico’s forests. (Photo: Shutterstock)
Ten of the Most Important Forests Worldwide
Borneo (8/10)
Size: approx. 370,000 sq km / 140,000 sq mi
Borneo, the third largest island in the world, is politically divided between Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei. Roughly half of Borneo’s territory is covered by tropical forests, the only natural habitat for the endangered Bornean Orangutan.
Borneo’s forests are seriously threatened due to illegal logging, spreading oil palm cultivations, and forest fires. Since 1985, Borneo lost about 200,000 sq km of forest area. Malaysia is the largest exporter of tropical wood in the world, accounting for 70 percent of the world's supply of raw-logs. (Photo: Shutterstock)
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Borneo (8/10)
Size: approx. 370,000 sq km / 140,000 sq mi
Borneo, the third largest island in the world, is politically divided between Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei. Roughly half of Borneo’s territory is covered by tropical forests, the only natural habitat for the endangered Bornean Orangutan.
Borneo’s forests are seriously threatened due to illegal logging, spreading oil palm cultivations, and forest fires. Since 1985, Borneo lost about 200,000 sq km of forest area. Malaysia is the largest exporter of tropical wood in the world, accounting for 70 percent of the world's supply of raw-logs. (Photo: Shutterstock)
Ten of the Most Important Forests Worldwide
New Guinea (9/10)
Size: approx. 300,000 sq km / 116,000 sq mi
The third largest island in the world between the Coral sea and the South Pacific Ocean contains a large part of primary tropical forest in the Asia-Pacific region. This ecoregion has some of the most biodiverse lowland rainforests in the world, providing essential habitat for many different species of birds, mammals, and a variety of animals living on the water’s edge.
The island has one of the highest deforestation rates in the world. Biggest threats are the expansion of human habitation and an increase in oil palm and coffee plantations. (Photo: Shutterstock)
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New Guinea (9/10)
Size: approx. 300,000 sq km / 116,000 sq mi
The third largest island in the world between the Coral sea and the South Pacific Ocean contains a large part of primary tropical forest in the Asia-Pacific region. This ecoregion has some of the most biodiverse lowland rainforests in the world, providing essential habitat for many different species of birds, mammals, and a variety of animals living on the water’s edge.
The island has one of the highest deforestation rates in the world. Biggest threats are the expansion of human habitation and an increase in oil palm and coffee plantations. (Photo: Shutterstock)
Ten of the Most Important Forests Worldwide
Bulgaria and Romania (10/10)
Size: approx. 45,000 sq km / 17,000 sq mi
The forests of Bulgaria and Romania, although remarkably smaller in size, are home to a significant part of Europe's large carnivore populations. The geographic proximity to Europe and the Near East, the moderate climate, and the varied geology account for the region’s uniqueness of plant and animal life.
Although the governments of both countries have made commitments to protecting their public forests, logging, overgrazing, and poaching still pose serious threats to the region. Air pollution, acid rain, and industrial development are additional threats to Bulgaria’s and Romania’s forests. (Photo: Shutterstock)
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Bulgaria and Romania (10/10)
Size: approx. 45,000 sq km / 17,000 sq mi
The forests of Bulgaria and Romania, although remarkably smaller in size, are home to a significant part of Europe's large carnivore populations. The geographic proximity to Europe and the Near East, the moderate climate, and the varied geology account for the region’s uniqueness of plant and animal life.
Although the governments of both countries have made commitments to protecting their public forests, logging, overgrazing, and poaching still pose serious threats to the region. Air pollution, acid rain, and industrial development are additional threats to Bulgaria’s and Romania’s forests. (Photo: Shutterstock)
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