Original forestCurrent forestBroad-scale restoration Irrigated croplands

Mosaic restoration Rainfed croplands

Tropical deforestation 2000-2005

A World of Opportunity

Forests once covered a much greater area than they do today. The map shows where forests could potentially grow today, based on global climate and soils data combined with WWF’s map of Terrestrial Ecoregions of the World.

Today’s forests cover just more than half of their potential extent. Large expanses of original forest have been lost—converted to produce food, timber and energy and to make space for settlement. The loss of forests continues at a rapid rate. The map shows the location and extent of tropical deforestation for the years 2000–2005 according to satellite images (Hansen, et al., 2008).Yesterday’s loss, however, can be tomorrow’s gain. Forest landscapes can recover and climate and other benefits will grow with the trees. The map shows the world from a forest landscape restoration perspective, based on an analysis by WRI and SDSU.

Forest landscape restoration potential(million hectares, excluding the boreal)

More than a billion hectares, spread over many continents and countries, are likely to offer restoration opportunities.