Recommended Forest Cover by Country: Global Guidelines

No Universal Number—Context Is Key

Ideal forest cover varies by biome, population, economy, and policy. Major organizations suggest:

FAO (Food & Agriculture Organization)

• Tropical/Subtropical: 20–30%
• Temperate: 20–40%
• Boreal: 30–60%

World Bank

• Global average: 10–15%
• Forest-rich nations: 15–20%+

WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature)

• Developing countries: 15–20%
• Developed countries: 30–50%

Why Forests Matter

• Carbon sequestration (climate mitigation).
• Biodiversity habitat (80% terrestrial species).
• Watershed protection (clean water, flood regulation).
• Soil conservation (erosion control).
• Livelihoods (1.6B people depend on forests).

National Realities

Suriname (98%), Finland (73%), Japan (68%) vs. Egypt (<1%), Qatar (0%). Targets must balance food security, urbanization, indigenous rights, and restoration capacity. Bonn Challenge (350M ha by 2030) and UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration drive global ambition.

One size doesn't fit all—but every country needs *more* forest, not less.