Forest area annual net change rate

The data series presented here measures the forest area net change rate (%).

This data series contributes to the measurement of SDG Indicator 15.2.1, classified as Tier I in September 2018, which is officially defined as follows:

Proportion of important sites for terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity that are covered by protected areas shows temporal trends in the mean percentage of each important site for terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity (i.e., those that contribute significantly to the global persistence of biodiversity) that is covered by designated protected areas. 

It is important to mention that SDG indicator 15.2.1:

SDG indicator 15.2.1 is composed of five sub-indicators that measure progress towards all dimensions of sustainable forest management. The environmental values of forests are covered by three sub-indicators focused on the extension of forest area, biomass within the forest area and protection and maintenance of biological diversity, and of natural and associated cultural resources. Social and economic values of forests are reconciled with environmental values through sustainable management plans. The subindicator provides further qualification to the management of forest areas, by assessing areas which are independently verified for compliance with a set of national or international standards.

The SDG indicator 15.2.1 is composed of five sub-indicators:

1. Forest area annual net change rate
2. Above-ground biomass stock in forest
3. Proportion of forest area located within legally established protect areas
4. Proportion of forest area under a long term forest management plan
5. Forest area under an independently verified forest management certification scheme

According to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) -- the Custodian Agency for this indicator -- the rationale behind the forest area annual net change rate can be summarised as follows: 

Trends in forest area are crucial for monitoring SFM. The first sub-indicator focuses on both the direction of change (whether there is a loss or gain in forest area) and how the change rate is changing over time; the latter is important in order to capture progress among countries that are losing forest area, but have managed to reduce the rate of annual forest area loss.

The full official metadata for this Tier I indicator are available at UN SDG Metadata website.

For more information on this data series, please visit UN SDG website.