## Forestry Statistics 2020 Chapter 9: International Forestry

 
Release date: 
24 September 2020 
Coverage: 
United Kingdom Geographical breakdown: 
Country 

Issued by:  
Forest Research 231 Corstorphine Road, Edinburgh, EH12 7AT 
Enquiries:    
Robert Stagg 0300 067 5238 statistics@forestresearch.gov.uk  
Statistician: 
Sheila Ward 0300 067 5236 
Website:    
www.forestresearch.gov.uk/statistics/ 

## Contents

Introduction ........................................................................................ 3 Key findings ........................................................................................ 4 9.1 Forest cover: international comparisons............................................. 5 9.2 Forest area by country .................................................................... 7 9.3 Annual changes in forest area .......................................................... 8 
9.4 Forest carbon stocks ...................................................................... 
10 
9.5 Wood removals 
.............................................................................. 
12 
9.6 Production of wood products ........................................................... 
15 
9.7 Apparent consumption of wood products 
........................................... 
18 
9.8 World trade in forest products ......................................................... 
21 

## Introduction

This chapter contains information about world forestry, presenting global figures by region alongside data for the UK and the EU. Topics covered include woodland area, carbon stocks, wood removals, production and apparent consumption of wood products and international trade in forest products. The data are produced by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). Further information on the data sources and methodology used to compile the figures is provided in the Sources chapter. All of the statistics presented in this chapter have been previously released by the FAO. For further details on revisions, see the International Forestry section of the Sources chapter. Data for the European Union (EU) relate to all 27 current EU members, excluding the UK, for all of the years shown.  Data for Europe cover 26 of the EU members (excluding Cyprus), the Russian Federation and a number of other European countries, including Norway, Switzerland, Serbia and Ukraine. A copy of all International Forestry tables can be accessed in spreadsheet format from the Data Downloads web page at www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-and-resources/statistics/data-downloads/. 


## Key Findings

The main findings are: 

- At around 13% forest cover in 2020, the UK is one of the least densely 
forested countries in Europe. This compares with 46% for Europe as a whole and 31% worldwide.  
- The global forest area reduced by around 4.7 million hectares (0.1%) per 
year between 2010 and 2020. 
- Carbon stocks in forest living biomass have increased in Europe, North & 
Central America and Asia between 1990 and 2020, but have shown an overall decrease at a global level over this period.  
- A total of 4.0 billion m3 underbark of wood was removed from global 
forests in 2018, of which around one half (49%) was for use as woodfuel and the remainder was industrial roundwood (for use by wood processors).  
- Global production of wood products in 2018 totalled 492 million m3 of 
sawnwood, 404 million m3 of wood-based panels and 408 million tonnes of paper & paperboard.  
- Europe consumed around one quarter (24%) of all sawnwood, around 
one fifth (21%) of the world's wood-based panels and almost one quarter (23%) of all paper and paperboard in 2018.  
- The UK was the second largest net importer (imports less exports) of 
forest products in 2018, with net imports of US $8.6 billion. The largest net importer was China. 

## 9.1 Forest Cover: International Comparisons

The FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment (FRA) is a collation of forest data undertaken by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) at the global level every five years. The UK is one of the least densely forested countries in Europe with around 13% of its total land area covered in forest in 2020 (Figure 9.1, Table 9.1). This compares with 46% for Europe as a whole and 31% worldwide.  
 
Source: FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment 2020. These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics.  For further information see the Sources chapter. 

 

## 

Total land area 
Country 
Forest area 
(million ha) 
(million ha) 
Forest as % 
of land area 
Europe 
  
  
  
United Kingdom 
3 
24 
13 
Denmark 
1 
4 
15 
Finland 
22 
30 
74 
France 
17 
55 
32 
Germany 
11 
35 
33 
Ireland 
1 
7 
11 
Italy 
10 
29 
33 
Spain 
19 
50 
37 
Sweden 
28 
41 
69 
Other EU 
47 
124 
38 
Total EU1 
159 
400 
40 
Russian Federation 
815 
1,638 
50 
Total Europe2 
1,017 
2,213 
46 
Africa 
637 
2,989 
21 
Asia 
623 
3,109 
20 
North & Central America 
753 
2,133 
35 
Oceania 
185 
849 
22 
South America 
844 
1,746 
48 
World 
4,059 
13,039 
31 

 
Source: FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment 2020. Notes: 
1. The EU covers 27 member states as at September 2020. This excludes the UK. Cyprus is 

included in EU total but is part of FAO's Asia region. 
2. The Europe region covers 26 EU countries (excluding Cyprus), the UK, the Russian 
Federation and other countries, including Norway, Switzerland, Serbia and Ukraine. 
 
These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics.  For further information see the Sources chapter. 

 

## 9.2 Forest Area By Country

Figure 9.2 shows the countries with the largest forest areas.  Around one half (49%) of the total forest area of 4,059 million hectares in 2020 is located in four countries (the Russian Federation, Brazil, Canada and the USA). 

 
Source: FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment 2020. These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics.  For further information see the Sources chapter. 


## 9.3 Annual Changes In Forest Area

The global forest area has reduced from around 4,128 million hectares in 1990 to 4,059 million hectares in 2020.  This represents a decrease of around 7.8 million hectares (0.2%) per year between 1990 and 2000, of around 5.2 million hectares (0.1%) per year between 2000 and 2010 and of around 4.7 million hectares (0.1%) per year between 2010 and 2020 (Table 9.2). The forest area has reduced in most regions since 1990, except for Europe and Asia (where areas have increased). 

percentage change in forest area 
Region 
1990-2000 
2000-2010 
2010-2020 
Europe 
  
  
  
UK 
0.6 
0.4 
0.4 
EU1 
0.5 
0.3 
0.2 
Total Europe 
0.1 
0.1 
0.0 
Africa 
-0.4 
-0.5 
-0.6 
Asia 
0.0 
0.4 
0.2 
North and Central America 
0.0 
0.0 
0.0 
Oceania 
-0.1 
-0.1 
0.2 
South America 
-0.5 
-0.6 
-0.3 
World 
-0.2 
-0.1 
-0.1 

 
Source: FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment 2020. Notes: 
1. The EU covers 27 member states as at September 2020. This excludes the UK. Cyprus is 
included in EU total but is part of FAO's Asia region. 
2. UK figures for 2020 are 2018-based estimates.  Revised estimates (from Chapter 1) 
suggest that Table 9.2 slightly under-estimates the change in forest area in the UK in the most recent time period. 
 These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics.  For further information see the Sources chapter. 



Between 2010 and 2020, the largest decrease in forest area was in Brazil (1.5 million hectares per year on average) and the largest increase was in China (1.9 million hectares per year on average) (Figure 9.3). 

 
Source: FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment 2020. Notes: 
1. Countries with changes of at least 0.3 million hectares per year only. These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics.  For further information see the Sources chapter. 


## 9.4 Forest Carbon Stocks

Carbon stocks in forest living biomass have increased in Europe and North & Central America between 1990 and 2020, but have shown an overall decrease at a global level over this period (Table 9.3). The overall decrease has mainly been driven by declines in South America and Africa, where forest areas have decreased. Carbon stocks in biomass also increased slightly in Asia, where carbon sequestered in new plantations has balanced out carbon losses from areas of deforestation. 

giga tonnes of carbon 
Region 
1990 
2000 
2010 
2015 
2020 
Europe 
45 
48 
51 
53 
55 
Africa 
59 
56 
54 
52 
51 
Asia 
34 
35 
36 
37 
38 
North and Central America 
39 
40 
41 
41 
42 
Oceania 
14 
14 
14 
14 
14 
South America 
106 
102 
98 
97 
96 
World 
298 
296 
294 
295 
295 

 
Source: FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment 2020. Notes: 
1. A giga tonne is a thousand million tonnes (109 tonnes). These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics.  For further information see the Sources chapter. 



Source: FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment 2020. 

These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics.  For further information see the Sources chapter. 


## 9.5 Wood Removals

A total of 4.0 billion m3 underbark of wood was removed from global forests in 2018, of which around one half (49%) was for use as woodfuel and the remainder was industrial roundwood (for use by wood processors) (Table 9.4). North & Central America and Europe together accounted for around three fifths (59%) of all industrial roundwood removals in 2018. Globally, removals of industrial roundwood increased by 11% between 2015 and 2018, resulting from increases in all regions. Nearly three quarters (73%) of woodfuel removals in 2018 took place in Asia and Africa. Globally, removals of woodfuel increased by 2% between 2015 and 2018. 

million m3 underbark 
Region 
1990 
2000 
2010 
2015 
2018 
Industrial roundwood 
  
  
  
  
  
Europe 
  
  
  
  
  
UK 
6 
8 
8 
9 
9 
EU1  
311 
335 
331 
338 
378 
Total Europe 
517 
519 
533 
574 
650 
Africa 
61 
71 
72 
75 
79 
Asia 
268 
273 
379 
403 
442 
North & Central America 
595 
632 
485 
516 
561 
Oceania 
34 
47 
57 
64 
77 
South America 
110 
147 
198 
217 
248 
World 
1,585 
1,690 
1,723 
1,849 
2,057 
Woodfuel 
  

 
Europe 
  

 
UK 
0 
0 
1 
2 
2 
EU1  
67 
85 
115 
120 
122 
Total Europe 
138 
109 
154 
170 
180 
Africa 
445 
551 
644 
679 
700 
 
Asia 
897 
808 
764 
735 
719 
North & Central America 
162 
129 
129 
136 
160 
Oceania 
9 
13 
11 
10 
10 
South America 
162 
185 
162 
171 
180 
World 
1,814 
1,795 
1,863 
1,902 
1,948 
Total roundwood 
  

 
Europe 
  

 
UK 
6 
8 
10 
11 
11 
EU1 
378 
420 
446 
458 
500 
Total Europe 
655 
628 
687 
744 
830 
Africa 
506 
623 
715 
754 
779 
Asia 
1,166 
1,081 
1,144 
1,138 
1,160 
North & Central America 
757 
761 
613 
652 
721 
Oceania 
43 
60 
68 
74 
87 
South America 
272 
332 
359 
388 
428 
World 
3,399 
3,485 
3,586 
3,751 
4,005 

 
Source: FAO. Notes: 
1. The EU covers 27 member states as at September 2020. This excludes the UK. Cyprus is 

included in EU total but is part of FAO's Asia region. 
 These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics.  For further information see the Sources chapter. 

 
 
These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics.  For further information see the Sources chapter. 


## 9.6 Production Of Wood Products

Global production of wood products in 2018 totalled 492 million m3 of sawnwood, 404 million m3 of woodbased panels and 408 million tonnes of paper & paperboard (Table 9.5). Europe produced around one third (34%) of all sawnwood in 2018 (mainly in EU countries), with over one quarter (29%) in Asia and a further quarter (27%) produced in North & Central America.  Overall, sawnwood production increased by 10% between 2015 and 2018, driven by increases in most regions. Wood-based panels were more commonly produced in Asia, accounting for around three fifths (60%) of global production in 2018.  Around one fifth (22%) were produced in Europe (mainly in EU countries) and 12% in North & Central America.  At a global level, wood-based panel production increased by 5% between 2015 and 2018, mainly driven by an increase in Europe. Asia also accounted for almost one half (47%) of paper and paperboard production in 2018, with around one quarter (26%) in Europe and a further 21% in North & Central America. At a global level, paper and paperboard production increased slightly (by 0.4%) between 2015 and 2018. 


| Region                       | 1990 2000 2010 2015 2018    |
|------------------------------|-----------------------------|
| Sawnwood (million m          |                             |
| 3                            |                             |
| )                            |                             |
| Europe                       |                             |
| UK                           | 2                           |
| EU                           |                             |
| 1                            |                             |
|                              | 80                          |
| Total Europe                 | 149                         |
| Africa                       | 8                           |
| Asia                         | 105                         |
| North and Central America    | 129                         |
| Oceania                      | 6                           |
| South America                | 22                          |
| World                        | 419                         |
| Wood-based panels (million m |                             |
| 3                            |                             |
| )                            |                             |
| Europe                       |                             |
| UK                           | 2                           |
| EU                           |                             |
| 1                            |                             |
|                              | 34                          |
| Total Europe                 | 48                          |
| Africa                       | 2                           |
| Asia                         | 27                          |
| North and Central America    | 44                          |
| Oceania                      | 2                           |
| South America                | 4                           |
| World                        | 126                         |
| Paper & paperboard (million  |                             |
| tonnes)                      |                             |
|                              |                             |
| Europe                       |                             |
| UK                           | 5                           |
| EU                           |                             |
| 1                            |                             |
|                              | 59                          |
| Total Europe                 | 74                          |
 
Africa 
3 
4 
4 
4 
3 
Asia 
57 
95 
170 
192 
192 
North and Central America 
92 
111 
94 
89 
88 
Oceania 
3 
4 
4 
4 
4 
South America 
8 
11 
15 
15 
16 
World 
235 
325 
392 
407 
408 

 
Source: FAO. Notes: 
1. The EU covers 27 member states as at September 2020. This excludes the UK. Cyprus is 

included in EU total but is part of FAO's Asia region. 
These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics.  For further information see the Sources chapter. 

## 9.7 Apparent Consumption Of Wood Products

Apparent consumption (defined as production + imports - exports) of wood products around the world totalled 486 million m3 sawnwood, 404 million m3 wood-based panels and 408 million tonnes of paper and paperboard in 2018 (Table 9.6). Two fifths (41%) of all sawnwood in 2018 was consumed in Asia and around one quarter each in North & Central America (26%) and in Europe (24%). Reflecting the increased production of sawnwood (see Table 9.5), apparent consumption of sawnwood increased by 10% overall between 2015 and 2018. This was driven by increases in apparent consumption in most regions. Asia consumed around three fifths (59%) of the world's wood-based panels in 2018, around one fifth (21%) was consumed in Europe and 14% in North & Central America.  Apparent consumption of wood-based panels worldwide increased by 5% between 2015 and 2018, largely resulting from increased demand in Europe. Nearly one half (49%) of all paper and paperboard in 2018 was consumed in Asia, around one fifth (23%) in Europe and a further one fifth (21%) in North & Central America. At a global level, apparent consumption of paper and paperboard increased by 1% between 2015 and 2018. 


| Region                       | 1990 2000 2010 2015 2018    |
|------------------------------|-----------------------------|
| Sawnwood (million m          |                             |
| 3                            |                             |
| )                            |                             |
| Europe                       |                             |
| UK                           | 13                          |
| EU-28                        |                             |
| 1                            |                             |
|                              | 83                          |
| Total Europe                 | 158                         |
| Africa                       | 10                          |
| Asia                         | 112                         |
| North and Central America    | 119                         |
| Oceania                      | 6                           |
| South America                | 20                          |
| World                        | 426                         |
| Wood-based panels (million m |                             |
| 3                            |                             |
| )                            |                             |
| Europe                       |                             |
| UK                           | 5                           |
| EU-28                        |                             |
| 1                            |                             |
|                              | 36                          |
| Total Europe                 | 52                          |
| Africa                       | 1                           |
| Asia                         | 25                          |
| North and Central America    | 44                          |
| Oceania                      | 2                           |
| South America                | 3                           |
| World                        | 127                         |
| Paper & paperboard (million  |                             |
| tonnes)                      |                             |
|                              |                             |
| Europe                       |                             |
| UK                           | 9                           |
| EU-28                        |                             |
| 1                            |                             |
|                              | 53                          |
| Total Europe                 | 71                          |
 
Africa 
4 
5 
7 
8 
8 
Asia 
62 
103 
178 
198 
200 
North and Central America 
88 
110 
91 
86 
87 
Oceania 
3 
5 
5 
4 
4 
South America 
8 
12 
16 
16 
17 
World 
236 
325 
391 
404 
408 

 
Source: FAO. Notes: 
1. The EU covers 27 member states as at September 2020. This excludes the UK. Cyprus is 

included in EU total but is part of FAO's Asia region. 
 These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics.  For further information see the Sources chapter. 

## 9.8 World Trade In Forest Products

Figures 9.6 and 9.7 show the largest net importers and exporters (by value) of forest products in 2018.  This covers trade in roundwood, sawnwood, woodbased panels, wood pulp and paper and paperboard, but excludes trade in secondary processed wood (e.g. furniture made from wood).  Values are expressed in US dollars (the units reported in the data published by FAO). The UK was the second largest net importer (imports less exports) of forest products in 2018, with net imports of US $8.6 billion (Figure 9.6). The largest net importer in 2018 was China (US $42.3 billion) and Japan was the third largest net importer (US $7.7 billion). 

 
Source: FAO Notes: 
1. Excludes trade in secondary wood products. These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics.  For further information see the Sources chapter. 

 
 
The largest net exporters (exports less imports) of forest products in 2018 were Canada (with net exports valued at US $20.5 billion), Finland (US $13.0 billion) and Sweden (US $11.5 billion) (Figure 9.7). 

 
Source: FAO Notes: 
1. Excludes trade in secondary wood products. 

 
These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics.  For further information see the Sources chapter.