World's forests continue to shrink

FAO's latest "global forest assessment" shows that although the rate of deforestation has fallen by 20 per cent since previously reported in 1995, each of the world's inhabitants was continuing to lose an average of 12 square metres of forest per year. The world is estimated to contain around 6,000 square metres of forest per person. Forests are disappearing most rapidly in Africa and Latin America, whereas in Asia, the reduction of natural forests is largely compensated by new plantation forests. In Europe and North America the forest area is increasing, according to the FAO survey.