Forests cover one third of the earth's land mass, performing vital functions and supporting the livelihoods of 1.6 billion people. Forests are vital for human survival but have been hit hard by human activity. Every year, approximately 12 million hectares of forest are destroyed. Forests are home to more than half of the world’s land-based species of animals, plants and insects. They combat climate change because of their capacity to remove carbon from the atmosphere and store it, which is called forest mitigation. Forests also buffer the impacts of storms and floods. By feeding our rivers, forests supply drinking water for nearly half of the world’s largest cities. They also provide shelter, jobs and security for forest-dependent populations.
