Forests and climate are intrinsically linked: forest loss and degradation is both a cause and an effect of our changing climate.
The agriculture, forestry and land-use sectors account for about a quarter of all global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and are the largest sources after cars, trucks, trains, planes and ships combined. By reducing forest loss, we can reduce carbon emissions and fight climate change. It's that simple.
As deforestation and forest degradation have such a significant impact on climate change, reducing forest loss can have multiple benefits for ecosystems and people. These include cutting greenhouse gas emissions, sequestering carbon, providing other ecosystems services, and maintaining intact, functioning forests that have the best chance of withstanding climate change.
Read WWF's final statement on the Paris agreement
Forests & Climate from WWF Forests for Life programme on Vimeo.

© Jose Llopis / WWF
"Be it a large country like Brazil or a small country like Guatemala, be it the AIDESEP indigenous federation of Peru or the private company Mondelēz, we must encourage and recognize the leadership of all actors to support a development model that values the multiple goods and services that forests provide."
Marco Lambertini, WWF Director General, speaking at the forest day at COP21
REPORTS FROM WWF AND PARTNERS
- INDC Analysis: An Overview of the Forest Sector
- The Forest Opportunity: Where Partnerships Can Support Targets and Go Further
- Forest Reference Level Submissions under REDD+
- REDD+ for People and Nature: scaling up participatory mapping into jurisdictional REDD+ in DRC
- The Little Sustainable Landscapes Book
- Citizen science takes aim at deforestation
Stories & videos
- Video: What is COP21 and why should we care?
- Video: Deforestation Fronts
- Blog: Mitigating climate change by implementing the high conservation value approach
- Indonesia haze sends a clear message on climate
- Blog: Returning to Our Roots: Saving Forests and Curbing Climate Change
- Protecting a forest across generations
- Strengthening Land Tenure through Participatory Land-use Mapping in the Democratic Republic of Congo
- Video: The Peruvian Amazon: A Land of Abundance
WWF in the news
- A ten-year battle to root forests in a climate pact is won
- #COP21: New Evidence Shows That Forest Protection Could Hold Key To Strong Climate Deal
- To fight climate change, cut deforestation as first step: Global green group
- Paris And The Amazing Technicolor Charm-Quilt: Why This Year’s Climate Talks Really Are Different
- Technical Talks On REDD+ Wrap Up, And INDCs Begin Taking Shape As Climate Talks Enter Second Week
As COP26 enters its third day, we see some glimpses of hope.
The coalition promises to set a global standard for inclusive forest-based climate mitigation, but ...
How will we continue our supportive work when we can’t safely meet with participants in person?
Comprehensive forest and landscape restoration is one way we can hit fast forward on reducing the ...
Not all forest work happens under the canopy.
Advocating for forests at COP25 in Madrid
WWF scientist joins UNFCCC Roster of Experts for REDD+
The temptation to skip to steps lower in the hierarchy that are easier or cheaper will at best ...

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