Global progress towards sustainable forest management: bright spots and challenges

Abstract

This paper analyses global progress towards sustainable forest management by climatic domains and national income levels using data from the Global Forest Resources Assessment 2020. It also examines enabling conditions for sustainable forest management. The findings reveal progress towards sustainable forest management globally supported by the widespread presence of enabling frameworks. However, such progress has been uneven, and the rate of forest loss is accelerating in tropical low-income countries where coverage of forest management plans remains low and forest certification insignificant. Allocating higher proportions of forest areas to conservation and smaller proportions for production in these countries has not led to improved protection and management of forests. To enhance forest management in these priority geographies, this paper proposes conservation through sustainable use and demonstrates the value of well-managed production forests in maintaining forest cover and ecosystem services at the landscape level.