Trends in area of productive forest plantations

Description

In 2005, 2.8% of total global forest cover was made up of productive forest plantations, amounting to an area of approximately 110 million hectares (FAO 2006a). According to the FAO, there was an increase of approximately 40 per cent in the area of the world’s forests plantations with productive functions in the 15 years from 1990. Studies indicate that this growth – a marked trend in recent years – is set to continue (e.g., MA 2005; Down to Earth 2006).