The United Nations says the world must act now to save forests. Forests are very important for food and for the climate. Since 1990, people have cleared more than 489 million hectares of forest. Many other forest areas are also becoming unhealthy. This is a big problem for the planet.
There are many reasons for this loss. People clear forests to make more farms. The climate crisis also hurts forests. Pollution and using fossil fuels are other big problems. Natural things also cause damage. Every year, fires affect about 127 million hectares of forest. Insects, diseases, and bad weather also make forests weak.
Forests are very useful. They store about 714 gigatonnes of carbon. This helps to fight the climate emergency. Also, forests are home to 80% of the world's land animals and plants. If we lose forests, we lose many species. Many people also need forests to live. Nearly one-third of the global population uses forests for food, medicine, and money. If forests die, these people will face hard times.
However, there is good news. Fixing forests can bring a lot of money. Experts say it can create $1.8 trillion in benefits every year. Qu Dongyu is the Director General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). He says that restoring forests is a smart investment for the future. We must act quickly because the time to help the Earth is running out. Protecting forests helps people and the environment at the same time.