Forest area change. The amount of natural and plantation forest area tracked over time.
Forests serve multiple ecological, socioeconomic, and cultural roles in many countries.
They are among the most diverse and widespread ecosystems of the world. They support employment and traditional uses, and biodiversity. There is general concern over human impact on forest health, and the natural processes of forest growth and regeneration. Combating deforestation to preserve soils, water, air and biological diversity is explicitly considered in Agenda 21. However, a continuing and fast decreasing forest area in a country might be a alarm signal of unsustainable practices in the forestry and agricultural sector.