Impact
Together with indicator 15.1.1, this indicator ensures forests are efficiently managed, and a better balance is struck between conservation and sustainable use of natural resources.
Key results
The world continues to make progress in all dimensions of sustainable forest management. Although forests continue to be lost, the rate of loss has been cut by 25% since the period 2000-2005. Promisingly, the proportion of protected forest area and forests under long-term management plans are increasing. The most recent data on forest certification (2017) also show a positive global trend with an increase of certified forest areas in most regions.
Despite this positive outlook, deforestation and forest degradation are still concern in some regions, particularly in the tropics, indicating need for more action to reduce deforestation and implement sustainable forest and land management practices.