FILE PHOTO: An aerial view shows a deforested area during an operation to combat deforestation near Uruara, Para State, Brazil January 21, 2023. REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino/File Photo
MOSCOW, March 21 (Bernama-TASS) -- The world has lost about 420 million hectares of forest since 1990, which is comparable to half of China’s territory, the Russian News Agency (TASS) reported, citing the head of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Russia Office, Vladimir Moshkalo.
Moshkalo said deforestation continues at a rapid pace.
“According to data from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the world has lost 420 million hectares of forests.
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"This area is roughly equal to half of the People’s Republic of China," Moshkalo said in a press conference in conjunction with the International Day of Forests.
He added that the deforestation rate from 2015 to 2020 was about ten million hectares per year.
"This was largely related to cuttings alone and it is approximately equal to the area of Portugal," Moshkalo said.
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