A forest is an ecosystem characterized by a dense community of trees, with the United Nations' FAO defining it as land over 0.5 hectares with trees higher than 5 meters and a canopy cover over 10%. By this measure, forests covered 4.06 billion hectares, approximately 31% of the world's land area, in 2020, making them Earth's largest terrestrial ecosystems. These vital environments account for 75% of the planet's gross primary production and 80% of its plant biomass, significantly influencing regional climates; for instance, Amazonian trees can trigger seasonal rains months earlier.
However, forests worldwide face severe threats, primarily from deforestation driven by the production of commodities like wood, beef, soy, and palm oil. Historically, regions such as Europe and the eastern United States have seen drastic reductions in forest cover, and today, almost half of Earth's forest area is fragmented, with only 49% remaining relatively intact. This ongoing loss and fragmentation highlight the urgent need for sustainable practices to protect these invaluable natural resources and their critical ecological functions.