Second Report on the State of the World’s Forest Genetic Resources

The availability of information on forest genetic resources has increased but remains inadequate, hindering efforts to improve their management, the Second Report on the State of the World’s Forest Genetic Resources finds. Published by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in March 2025, the report assesses the conservation, sustainable use and development of the genetic resources of trees and other woody plants. 

There are approximately 58,000 tree species world-wide, about 1,600 woody bamboo species and nearly 500 species of rattans (climbing palms). Threatened tree species, roughly 30 per cent of the total, are found across the world, but most are located in tropical and subtropical areas.

The report found that nearly two-thirds of countries maintain national inventories of forest genetic resources, gathering information from various stakeholders. Globally, countries reported more than 2,800 species of trees and other woody plants, of which nearly 1,800 have been genetically characterised. Approximately 1,400 and 1,100 species are included in in situ and ex situ conservation programmes respectively.

Globally, deforestation, forest degradation, climate change, fires, pests, diseases and invasive species are threatening many trees and other woody plant species and eroding their genetic diversity. The report found that common and widely distributed tree species retain much of their genetic diversity, while rare and threatened species have lost significant amounts.

More than two-thirds of countries have national tree-seed programmes, but many are experiencing shortages of seed and other reproductive materials. This poses challenges for establishing new forests and achieving the target of a three per cent increase in the global forest area by 2030.

Although countries reported many examples of how forest genetic resources have contributed to sustainable development, international awareness of their importance remains low. This and other gaps require reinforced efforts to implement the Global Plan of Action for the Conservation, Sustainable Use and Development of Forest Genetic Resources.

“Investing in forest genetic resources and managing them sustainably will enable the adaption of the world’s forests to climate change while also increasing productivity and developing new products; it will help safeguard human well-being and maintain forest health,” FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu wrote in the report’s foreword.

(FAO/ile)

Read more and download the report on the FAO Website