February 18, 2026Feb 18, 2026
KCNA Pyongyang Times

Reduction of forest areas causes serious challenges

Date: 26/09/2021 | Source: Pyongyang Times | Read original version at source

Forests account for 30.8 percent of the whole land area of the earth, but they are decreasing ceaselessly day after day.

According to a report issued by the World Natural Protection Fund early this year, nearly 430 000km2 of forest areas have disappeared on major 24 “timbering fronts” in the world between 2004 and 2017.

A joint report issued on May last year by the FAO and the United Nations Environment Programme said that nearly 1.78 million square kilometres of forests centring around Africa and South America disappeared in recent 30 years.

At present, forests are recklessly being cut down in every part of the world.

According to the World Natural Protection Fund, out of 24 hot spots of deforestation in the world, there are nine in Latin America, eight in Africa and seven in Asia-Pacific. The forest falls of the regions amount to over half of the world total, it noted.

Worse still, forest fire continues to break out around the world due to the persistent high temperature caused by global warming to devastate a large area of forests.

Experts express their concern that if forest areas continue to decrease at this speed, they will completely be removed on the earth after 100 years.

The reduction of forest resources brings great negative effects on the earth.

First of all, the ecosystem of the earth is being damaged.

Deforestation has been rampant in the Amazon basin, with the result that many tree species were already on the verge of extinction some years ago.

Due to the destruction of their habitats, over 900 living species have disappeared on the earth.

Forests absorb and fix the level of carbon dioxide. That is why people call them the “lungs of the earth”.

“Carbon emission is being quickened and biodiversity and ecosystem are being destroyed as people fail to manage forests properly worldwide. This adversely affects not only the local community of the relevant region but also the livelihood and welfare of all other people around the world,” said the president of the World Natural Protection Fund.

Forest destruction hastens global warming, thereby causing various natural disasters including flood and drought. It is not accidental that a researcher of a country stressed the need to return lots of arable land into forests again in order to get rid of global warming.

It also has produced such complicated problems as the depletion of resources and the desertification of land.

The reality shows that the protection and planting of forests are a very important matter related to the existence of humankind.

More From Pyongyang Times

Russian FM refers to orientation of diplomacy

Russian FM refers to orientation of diplomacy

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov mentioned the orientation of the country’s diplomatic work in a video speech on February

February 17, 2026

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov mentioned the orientation of the country’s diplomatic work in a video speech on February

Hungary demands EU enforce sanctions against Ukraine

Hungary demands EU enforce sanctions against Ukraine

The Hungarian minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade criticized the forced army recruitment which is being enforced in Ukraine with

February 17, 2026

The Hungarian minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade criticized the forced army recruitment which is being enforced in Ukraine with

Lunar New Year holiday custom of Korean people

Lunar New Year holiday custom of Korean people

Lunar New Year’s Day is one of the greatest national folk holidays of the Korean people. From ancient times, each family cleaned

February 17, 2026

Lunar New Year’s Day is one of the greatest national folk holidays of the Korean people. From ancient times, each family cleaned

Saeppyol Street inaugurated with splendour

Saeppyol Street inaugurated with splendour

Saeppyol Street has made an imposing appearance in an excellent location in the Hwasong area of Pyongyang, the capital of the

February 16, 2026

Saeppyol Street has made an imposing appearance in an excellent location in the Hwasong area of Pyongyang, the capital of the

Congratulatory group of Koreans in Japan arrives in Pyongyang

Congratulatory group of Koreans in Japan arrives in Pyongyang

A congratulatory group of Koreans in Japan led by Ko Tok U, chairman of the Tokyo Metropolitan Headquarters of the General

February 16, 2026

A congratulatory group of Koreans in Japan led by Ko Tok U, chairman of the Tokyo Metropolitan Headquarters of the General

Chinese FM rejects reckless remarks of Japanese prime minister

Chinese FM rejects reckless remarks of Japanese prime minister

A spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry rejected the reckless remarks of the Japanese prime minister at a press conference on

February 16, 2026

A spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry rejected the reckless remarks of the Japanese prime minister at a press conference on

‘Our father’

‘Our father’

When February comes every year, Min Hong Dan, an officer of the Korean People’s Army, remembers the extraordinary story of her nam

February 16, 2026

When February comes every year, Min Hong Dan, an officer of the Korean People’s Army, remembers the extraordinary story of her nam

Seminars on exploits of Chairman Kim Jong Il held abroad

Seminars on exploits of Chairman Kim Jong Il held abroad

Seminars on exploits of Chairman Kim Jong Il were held in Cambodia, Pakistan, Romania, the Czech Republic and Algeria from January

February 15, 2026

Seminars on exploits of Chairman Kim Jong Il were held in Cambodia, Pakistan, Romania, the Czech Republic and Algeria from January

Russian FM censures US, West for pursuing hostile policy

Russian FM censures US, West for pursuing hostile policy

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov condemned the United States and the West for pursuing a hostile policy in an interview on

February 15, 2026

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov condemned the United States and the West for pursuing a hostile policy in an interview on

Iranian commander-in-chief warns enemy against provocation

Iranian commander-in-chief warns enemy against provocation

The commander-in-chief of the Iranian army referred to the enemy’s acts of provocation in a meeting of commanding officers of

February 15, 2026

The commander-in-chief of the Iranian army referred to the enemy’s acts of provocation in a meeting of commanding officers of

Youth and students meet socialist patriotic young pioneers

Youth and students meet socialist patriotic young pioneers

Youth and students met with socialist patriotic young pioneers at the hall of the youth league on February 13. Speeches were made

February 15, 2026

Youth and students met with socialist patriotic young pioneers at the hall of the youth league on February 13. Speeches were made

National youth and children's festival of loyalty opens

National youth and children's festival of loyalty opens

The 25th National Youth and Children's Festival of Loyalty opened in the DPRK on the occasion of the auspicious February holiday,

February 14, 2026

The 25th National Youth and Children's Festival of Loyalty opened in the DPRK on the occasion of the auspicious February holiday,

More Articles