Health of world's forests at 'dismal' levels, causing threat to humanity, report warns

The carbon dioxide released by the burning Amazon last year was seven times higher than the average over the previous two years and more than the total greenhouse gas emissions of Germany. File picture: AP/Eraldo Peres

Global forest health has plunged to “dismal” levels and threatens the wellbeing of humanity, warns a damning report that highlights how financial systems are pouring money into land clearance and undermining efforts to reduce destruction.

Since 2021, when world leaders and corporate executives promised to halt deforestation, the new study found forest loss has increased, driven by subsidies for livestock, monocrops, logging and other extractive industries.