The total forest area in a country might remain unchanged, but the quality of the forest can become degraded. Due to the definition used, the indicator covers a very diversified range of forests ranging from open tree savanna to very dense tropical forests. Plantation area compared to natural forest would provide a measure of the intensity of forest practices for timber production and possible ecosystem implications. The total forest area of a country, including plantations, at different yearly intervals. The data are often estimates, which are not always comparable because of changes in definitions and assessment methodologies.
National data is available from ministries responsible for forestry and statistics.
Forest Resources Assessments 1980. 112 and 124. Forest Resource Assessment 1990 - Non Tropical Developing Countries, 1995. International data provided by other institutions, for example World Resources Institute, are mostly based on the FAO Forest Resources Assessment information and data.