A World of Opportunity for Forest and Landscape Restoration

A World Resources Institute fact sheet identifying over two billion hectares of global potential for forest and landscape restoration, primarily in tropical and temperate regions. It distinguishes between wide-scale, mosaic, and remote restoration opportunities and emphasizes a holistic approach that integrates local stakeholders and diverse land uses to improve biodiversity, food security, and climate mitigation.

• More than two billion hectares of deforested and degraded landscapes globally offer potential for restoration, an area described as being larger than South America. These opportunities are primarily located in tropical and temperate regions.
• Restoration opportunities are categorized into three main types based on human pressure and land-use: mosaic restoration (1.5 billion hectares), wide-scale restoration (up to 0.5 billion hectares), and remote restoration (200 million hectares). Mosaic restoration is the most widespread opportunity and involves combining forests and trees with other land uses like agriculture.
• An additional one billion hectares of croplands and settled areas on former forest lands do not offer extensive area-based restoration but can benefit from strategic tree planting to protect waterways, prevent soil erosion, and enhance agricultural productivity.
• Forest and landscape restoration is defined as an active process that goes beyond simple afforestation or reforestation to balance ecological, social, and economic benefits. Key characteristics include the active engagement of local stakeholders, the restoration of whole landscapes rather than individual sites, and the use of continuous monitoring and adaptation.
• The document identifies that approximately 30 percent of global forest cover has been completely cleared and another 20 percent has been degraded over several centuries.
• The Convention on Biological Diversity's Strategic Plan 2011–2020 includes Target 15, which aims to restore at least 15 percent of degraded ecosystems by 2020 to enhance carbon stocks and ecosystem resilience.
• Africa is identified as the region with the greatest land area offering forest and landscape restoration opportunities.

APA

Minnemeyer, S., Laestadius, L., Sizer, N., Saint-Laurent, C., & Potapov, P. (n.d.). A World of Opportunity for Forest and Landscape Restoration. World Resources Institute. https://wriorg.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/world_of_opportunity_brochure_2011-09.pdf

Chicago

Minnemeyer, Susan, Lars Laestadius, Nigel Sizer, Carole Saint-Laurent, and Peter Potapov. A World of Opportunity for Forest and Landscape Restoration. World Resources Institute, n.d. https://wriorg.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/world_of_opportunity_brochure_2011-09.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Minnemeyer |first1=Susan |last2=Laestadius |first2=Lars |last3=Sizer |first3=Nigel |last4=Saint-Laurent |first4=Carole |last5=Potapov |first5=Peter |title=A World of Opportunity for Forest and Landscape Restoration |publisher=World Resources Institute |url=https://wriorg.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/world_of_opportunity_brochure_2011-09.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{minnemeyerndworld, author = {Minnemeyer, Susan and Laestadius, Lars and Sizer, Nigel and Saint-Laurent, Carole and Potapov, Peter}, title = {{A World of Opportunity for Forest and Landscape Restoration}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, url = {https://wriorg.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/world_of_opportunity_brochure_2011-09.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }