Main & inset © Greg Armfield / WWF-UK FORESTS 2018 THE CHALLENGE FORESTS ARE ESSENTIAL TO LIFE ON EARTH, YET THEY ARE NOT VALUED ENOUGH BY SOCIETY. EVERY YEAR, WE LOSE 8.8 MILLION HECTARES OF FOREST, MAINLY IN RICH TROPICAL HABITATS, FOR AGRICULTURE AND INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT. EVEN LARGER AREAS OF FOREST ARE BEING DEGRADED AROUND THE WORLD. ALL THIS THREATENS THE SURVIVAL OF COUNTLESS SPECIES, FUELS CLIMATE CHANGE, JEOPARDIZES PEOPLE'S LIVELIHOODS AND UNDERMINES THE VITAL SERVICES THAT FORESTS PROVIDE. WE NEED TO HALT THE DESTRUCTION AND RESTORE OUR FORESTS. Our goal: a world enriched by extensive, resilient forest landscapes benefiting biodiversity, people and climate. WWF-INT Strategy Report 2018 page 16