Türkiye ranks first in Europe, fourth globally in forest area increase

Türkiye has achieved the highest rate of forest expansion in Europe and ranks fourth worldwide in increasing its forested areas over the past ten years, according to a recent United Nations assessment. While global deforestation remains a critical issue, Türkiye has consistently added an average of 118,000 hectares of forest annually, a 0.53% yearly growth rate, positioning it as a regional leader in environmental conservation.

Global leaders in forest expansion and stark losses

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) data, compiled by Anadolu, shows China leads global forest expansion with an annual increase of 1.6 million hectares, followed by Russia (942,000 hectares) and India (191,000 hectares). Türkiye's performance places it ahead of other major nations like Australia, France, and Indonesia. In stark contrast, Brazil suffered the largest forest losses, with an average annual decline of 2.9 million hectares between 2015 and 2025, with significant deforestation also recorded in Angola, Tanzania, and Myanmar.

The global state of forests and key threats

Globally, forests cover approximately 4.14 billion hectares, or 32% of the world's land area, with over half concentrated in just five countries: Russia, Brazil, Canada, the US, and China. The report notes that while the annual net loss of forest area has decreased from 10.7 million hectares in the 1990s to 4.12 million hectares recently, the rate of forest expansion has also slowed. Wildfires are identified as the most significant threat, impacting an average of 130 million hectares annually from 2007 to 2019.

Türkiye's national afforestation drive in context

Türkiye's ranking reflects a sustained national policy of afforestation and rehabilitation of degraded lands, a cornerstone of its environmental strategy. This achievement is particularly notable amid ongoing industrialization and climate pressures. The data underscores a significant divergence in environmental stewardship, with South America and Africa experiencing the heaviest losses, while nations in Asia and Europe like Türkiye demonstrate that proactive reforestation is feasible.