Trees
Exploring forest science, deforestation data, restoration, policy, economics, and community action — from global forest loss to urban canopy expansion.
Forests are among the most critical systems on Earth for climate regulation, biodiversity, water cycles, and human well-being. This directory connects the data on deforestation with the solutions: restoration, Indigenous stewardship, carbon markets, agroforestry, monitoring technology, and urban forestry. The challenge is immense — but so is the movement to protect and restore the world's forests.
Explore Forests, Science & Solutions
Explore the data, systems, policies, technologies, and organizations advancing forest protection and restoration. The directory connects the science of deforestation with practical solutions across policy, finance, community management, ecology, monitoring, and land use.
Global Forest Loss
Evidence-based data on deforestation rates, primary causes, regional impacts, and the cascade effect of forest destruction on climate and biodiversity.
Reforestation & Restoration
Explore large-scale restoration projects, native-species reforestation, the Bonn Challenge, and the global movement to bring forests back.
Indigenous & Community Forestry
How Indigenous land rights, community forest management, and traditional knowledge produce some of the best conservation outcomes on the planet.
Carbon Markets & Forest Finance
REDD+, carbon credits, payment for ecosystem services, green bonds, and the financial instruments designed to make forests worth more standing than cut.
Urban Forestry & Green Cities
Urban tree canopy expansion, green corridors, million-tree initiatives, and the role of city forests in cooling, air quality, and public health.
Forest Policy & Governance
National and international policy frameworks — EUDR, Lacey Act, certification (FSC, RSPO) — governing forest protection, trade, and land use.
Forest Ecology & Science
The biology of forests: carbon cycling, biodiversity, hydrology, soil science, mycorrhizal networks, and the ecological services forests provide.
Forest Fires & Climate Feedback
The increasing frequency and intensity of wildfires, their links to climate change and deforestation, and strategies for fire management and prevention.
Agroforestry & Sustainable Land Use
Integrating trees into agricultural systems for food production, soil health, carbon sequestration, and biodiversity — a win-win for farmers and forests.
Forest Monitoring & Technology
Satellite monitoring (Global Forest Watch, PRODES, Sentinel), AI-based deforestation alerts, remote sensing, and open data platforms for transparency.
Global Forest Loss
Approximately 420 million hectares of forest have been lost since 1990, with 10 million hectares cleared annually. Agriculture, logging, and mining are the primary drivers — but the data also show that policy interventions can reverse the trend. Brazil reduced Amazon deforestation by 80% from 2004 to 2012 through enforcement and protected-area expansion.
Reforestation & Restoration
The Bonn Challenge and the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration aim to restore 350 million hectares of degraded land by 2030. Successful restoration uses native species, engages local communities, and requires long-term monitoring. Projects like Africa's Great Green Wall and Costa Rica's PES program demonstrate what is possible at scale.
Indigenous & Community Forestry
Indigenous-managed territories show deforestation rates 2–3 times lower than surrounding areas. Legal recognition of community land rights, combined with support for traditional knowledge and local governance, represents one of the most cost-effective and equitable strategies for forest conservation.
Carbon Markets & Forest Finance
Forest carbon markets — including REDD+, voluntary carbon credits, and jurisdictional approaches — channel funding to forest protection. While debates continue about additionality and permanence, well-designed programs have demonstrated measurable emissions reductions and community benefits when paired with strong governance.
Urban Forestry & Green Cities
Urban forests cool cities by 5–15°F, filter air pollution, manage stormwater, and improve mental and physical health. Cities from Singapore to Medellín are investing in green corridors and ambitious canopy targets. Urban forestry is increasingly recognized as essential infrastructure, not optional beautification.
Forest Policy & Governance
Policy frameworks at every level — from the EU Deforestation Regulation to national forest codes — shape how forests are protected, managed, and traded. Certification systems like FSC and RSPO provide market-based incentives, while international agreements create accountability mechanisms for forest-rich nations.
Forest Ecology & Science
Forests are among the most complex ecosystems on Earth. From mycorrhizal networks that connect trees underground to the role of forests in global carbon and water cycles, understanding forest ecology is foundational to effective conservation, restoration, and management.
Forest Fires & Climate Feedback
Climate change and deforestation have created a dangerous feedback loop: drier forests burn more readily, releasing carbon that accelerates warming. Fire seasons are growing longer and more intense globally. Integrated fire management — combining prevention, early detection, and community preparedness — is essential.
Agroforestry & Sustainable Land Use
Agroforestry integrates trees with crops and livestock, producing food while sequestering carbon, improving soil health, and supporting biodiversity. Systems range from shade-grown coffee to silvopasture and forest farming — demonstrating that agriculture and forests can coexist productively.
Forest Monitoring & Technology
Satellite-based monitoring from Global Forest Watch, PRODES/DETER, and the Copernicus Sentinel program provides near-real-time deforestation alerts. AI-powered analysis, drone surveys, and open data platforms are transforming forest monitoring — enabling faster enforcement and more transparent reporting.
Global Forest Loss: The Reality Behind the Numbers
The world has lost approximately 420 million hectares of forest since 1990 — an area larger than the European Union. Every year, roughly 10 million hectares are cleared, driven primarily by agricultural expansion, industrial logging, and mining.
The consequences cascade through every planetary system: accelerating climate change, collapsing biodiversity, disrupted water cycles, and displaced communities. But the solutions — from policy enforcement to Indigenous-led conservation to large-scale restoration — have been proven to work.
Help Expand the Trees Directory
Researchers, foresters, conservation professionals, policymakers, Indigenous communities, and citizen scientists may recommend credible resources for review. Submissions should identify the source, organization, project, publication, or data set and provide enough information for independent verification.