Reports, Case Studies & Assessments The State of the World's Forests Published 2024 Share SHARE Facebook share Twitter LinkedIn Copy URL Email Download Download SOFO-2024.pdf en Added on: 08 November, 2025 Breadcrumb Home Resource Library The State of The World's Forests Recent data indicate a significant reduction in deforestation in some countries. But climate change is making forests more vulnerable to stressors such as wildfire and pests.Projections indicate large increases in wood demand by 2050. Nearly three-quarters of the world’s population uses non-timber forest products.More innovation is needed in the forest sector, driven by escalating forest stressors, necessitating new forest management approaches; the shift towards a bioeconomy; and opportunities offered by non-wood forest products.Four factors form barriers to scaling up innovation in the forest sector: (1) lack of innovation culture; (2) risk; (3) potential limitations in various forms of capital; and (4) unsupportive policies and regulations.Five enabling actions will help scale up responsible and inclusive – and essential – innovation in the forest sector: (1) raise awareness; (2) boost innovation skills, capabilities and knowledge; (3) encourage transformational partnerships; (4) ensure more and universally accessible finance for innovation; and (5) provide an incentivizing policy and regulatory environment. Related partners Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)