Forests, acting as the planet’s “green lungs,” absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen. They also shape their own ecosystems and water cycles, impacting areas thousands of kilometers away. While the Amazon has lost millions of hectares of forest in recent decades, a number of countries are actively implementing reforestation programs.
A new infographic based on data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) shows which countries have led in forest area gain since 2015.
Since the 1970s, China has planted thousands, if not millions, of trees as part of its Great Green Wall initiative. This program was developed to stop the sands of the Gobi and Taklamakan deserts from encroaching on cities. Although the project, scheduled for completion by 2050, has shown mixed results (including low tree survival in some regions), the country has seen a net increase in forest area of 1.7 million hectares since 2015.
Russia ranks second globally, with a gain of 942 000 hectares over the past decade. This trend is fueled by national policies aimed at accelerating forest growth, launched in 2018.
India is also pursuing ambitious national reforestation targets. As part of its climate commitments, the country plans to restore 26 million hectares of forest by 2030. Since 2015, the net increase in forest cover there has been 191 000 hectares, the third-highest in the world.
