How the Largest Forest in the World Is Shrinking (Gone by 2064)

Woman examines the globe with a magnifying glass wondering where the largest forest in the world is located.

Sadly, the largest forest in the world faces an uncertain future.

According to a recent analysis, the Amazon rainforest could dry up and turn into a shrub-filled plain by 2064.

Rainforests generate freshwater that is vital to the local ecosystem and population. Smaller, frequent droughts don’t impact the ecosystem much, but longer, more severe droughts are starting to wear down the forest’s long-term resilience.

Are We About To Lose the Largest Forest in the World?

Because of deforestation and the climate issue,3 the dry seasons in the rainforest are becoming longer, making it impossible for the canopies to recover from fires, according to recent studies.

After the tropical rainforest dries up and changes into a tropical savanna, the research discovered that fire-prone grasses and bushes “permanently invade” and take over the environment.

Largest Forest Fire in the World

There is a tie for the record for the biggest single forest fire in recorded history.

About 1.2 million hectares (3 million acres) of boreal forest were destroyed by the Chinchaga Fire, which began in a logging slash in British Columbia, Canada, on June 1, 1950, and raged out of control for five months until being contained on October 31 in Alberta.

It is estimated that a similar-sized pine forest was destroyed in the 1987 Daxing’anling Wildfire (also known as the Great Black Dragon Fire), which swept over the Greater Khingan mountain range in northeast China and across the border into the Siberian USSR between May 6 and June 2.

The Great Black Dragon Fire reportedly killed more than two hundred persons, and another two hundred and fifty were wounded.

Largest Mangrove Forest in the World

The mangrove ecosystem of the Sundarbans is the most extensive of its kind anywhere in the World.2 A total of about 10,000 km² is involved. The Bay of Bengal lies nearby, and the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Meghna flow into it.

The Bangladesh portion is 6,017 km² in size. Sundri and Gewa trees are the most common. Royal Bengal Tigers play their home games there. Sundarbans is notable because it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The area’s growing popularity as an ecotourism destination is sometimes neglected.

Largest Pine Forest in the World

A world-record number of Ponderosa Pine trees can be found in the Coconino National Forest. It is one of Arizona’s six National Forests and spans 1.8 million acres of varying topography and altitude. The lowest point is at an elevation of 2,600 feet, and the highest is at 12,633 feet, which is at the peak of the San Francisco Peaks.

A wide angle shot of trees, mountains and blue sky located in Arizona's Coconino National Forest.

(Image: woodypino10)

The Mogollon Rim is a prominent geological formation in Arizona that can be found within the Coconino National Forest. The rim is a mile-long, 1,000-foot-high cliff that skirts the edge of the forest in central Arizona. The forest landscape is diverse, from ponderosa pine to alpine tundra to dry, sandy desert.

Families can enjoy many activities in the forest thanks to its 21 single-unit campgrounds and 6,300 miles of scenic roads. Campsites that can accommodate larger parties are also offered. Lakes and streams in the park provide opportunities for fishing, boating, and swimming, in addition to the forest roads and camping areas.

Largest Rainforest in the World

No other largest forest in the world compares in size to the Amazon rainforest in South America. According to NASA’s Earth Observatory, it encompasses over 80% of the Amazon basin, which is at least 2.3 million square miles (6 million square kilometers) in size.

An image of trees, vines and branches situated in a foggy Amazon rainforest.

(Image: David Riaño Cortés11)

This is three times the area of the next biggest rainforest and is larger than the United States,5 which is 3.8 million square miles (9.8 million square km), by a factor of 1.5. Brazil, Peru, and Colombia are only three of the nine nations in South America that share the Amazon Rainforest.

Largest Area of Old Growth Forest in the World

The phrase “old growth forest” refers to a forest that has been allowed to mature for a long time without any significant human or natural interventions. Old-growth forests are biodiverse because they are home to many endangered plant and animal species. New trees and plants can flourish in these woods because of the abundance of rich soil.

Within Alaska’s massive Tongass National Forest_ which spans approximately 17 million acres_ there is a large old-growth section covering 5.4 million acres. Tongass is irreplaceable because it is the biggest remaining old-growth coastal temperate rainforest on Earth.

Logging poses the greatest danger to it. This method not only leads to the removal of old trees but also results in regrowth that is thicker than is natural and hence unsuitable for animals, and logging roads erode into surrounding rivers, thereby limiting paths for fish.

Image of cut off logs in a forest showing its layers.

(Image: Lukas12)

The lives of black bears, brown bears, salmon, wolves in the Alexander Archipelago, bald eagles, black-tailed deer, and moose are at stake if Congress allows further privatization of these areas. Conservationists aim to meet the needs of loggers by reforesting cut areas and encouraging the establishment of second-growth trees.

Which Country Has Largest Forest Area in the World?

Russia has the largest forest area in the World. Over 81 thousand square kilometers of forest cover the biggest nation in the World. Few people live in the alpine woods that occupy most of the northern section of Russia.

Image of Siberian Birch woods with its white and black bark and dark green leaves.

(Image: Ursula Drake13)

Snow covers Siberia for the better part of the year, and the region’s environment is unlike any other on Earth. Due to the varying topography, several types of forests may be found at different elevations and locations, such as the upper subtropical highlands, river basins, and lower subtropical areas.

Russia has an extensive forest area compared to other nations. You should check out some articles about the most stunning trees from all across the globe.

World’s Largest Jungle

The Amazon Rainforest is the biggest in the World. There are about twice as many primary forests in the tropics as in the Amazon rainforest, which spans nine nations and over 40% of South America. According to estimates, around 84%, or 5.26 million square kilometers, of the Amazon’s forest cover comprises primary forest. U.S. land area is 9.15 million sq km, whereas Australia’s is 7.63 million sq km.

Compared to the next biggest rainforest,4 the Congo Basin, the Amazon rainforest contains more than three times as much primary forest. A little more than a third of the tropical tree cover is found in the Amazon rainforest.

The vastness of the Amazon Basin is not limited to its forested area alone. The Amazon River is the longest on the whole planet. The Amazon River may not be the longest in the World, but its volume is greater than that of the Congo or the Mississippi by a factor of five or twelve, respectively.

Smallest Forest in the World

The Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve near Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, is the smallest rainforest in the World. Only one of the 25-acre plots of rainforest remains from the original jungle that spread throughout what is now the metropolis.

A hanging bridge over the Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve with trees and building in the background.

(Image: RivieraBarnes14)

The Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve is Malaysia’s first and longest-standing protected forest area. Dedicated in 1906, it serves to keep a patch of unspoiled rainforest alive inside the expanding metropolis. The tiny park is home to local monkeys, monitor lizards, pythons, squirrels, and tropical tree species, including the Pulai, Meranti, and Keruing.

Top 10 Largest Forest in the World

More than half of the World’s tree cover is still made up of vast forests, but they are concentrated in just five nations. Learn more about the World’s biggest forests by perusing the information provided below;

The Amazon Forest

With a total area of about 2,000,000 square miles, it is the richest ecosystem in terms of plant and animal life. It is estimated that there are 10 million different types of plants and animals in the Amazon. It is often believed that new species may be discovered in the Amazon daily.

Congo Forest

The area of the Congo basin that this forest occupies is more than 1.4 million square kilometers. Often referred to be “Earth’s second lung” after the Amazon. The area has been designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

New Guinea Rainforest

These cover 303,500 square miles, or almost half of New Guinea, and include the Country’s immense highlands and landscapes. Since the woodlands are located on an island, there are endemic species that have never been exposed to other people.

Valdivian Temperate Rainforest

Ninety percent of the World’s endemic species call this forest home, and it covers an area of 95,800 square miles. The Valdivian Forests of South America are the only known home of these animals. These temperate woodlands have the greatest rates of animal pollination of any temperate biome on Earth.

Tongass National Forest

These woods cover an area of around 26,560 square miles in Southeast Alaska. Likewise, the Tongass National Forest is the biggest in the whole Country.7 As it happens, this forest is the biggest temperate forest in the Americas. That means it is home to one-third of the World’s remaining temperate rainforests. The woods are significant because of the carbon and biomass they sequester.

Bosawas Biosphere Reserve

In 1997, UNESCO gave it that designation. Nearly 8,500 square kilometers are included in the biosphere park. About one-fifth of all Earth species are considered to be this reserve home. It consists of six distinct woodlands and is inhabited by twenty distinct indigenous groups.

Xishuangbanna Tropical Rainforest

You’ll find it in China’s southern Yunnan province. The United Nations has protected this tropical rainforest as a biosphere reserve since 1990. The 936 square kilometers it occupies are home to several species at risk of extinction.

Daintree Rainforest

It’s one of the World’s oldest woods. That tropical forest is Australia’s Daintree. It has an estimated age of 180 million years and a total size of 463 square miles. There are more bat and butterfly species here than in Australia combined.

Kinabalu National Park

The forest is located in Borneo, the largest island in the World. A total of 291 square miles of tropical rainforest makes up Kinabalu National Park. The elevations here vary from slightly over 500 feet to over 13,000 feet. Numerous species, including 90 kinds of animals, 326 sorts of birds, and 1,000 types of orchids, depend on its diverse ecosystems.

Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve

It covers around 40 square miles and is a protected area in Costa Rica. Specifically, it’s a biosphere reserve. This is a unique cloud forest found only in the tropical mountains. Clouds are almost always expected to be present due to the local weather conditions. Red-eyed tree frogs, monkeys, and jaguars all call this place home.

World Largest Forest in Which Country

The Amazon rainforest, sometimes known as the Brazilian Amazon, covers 64 percent of the Country of Brazil. It is in the geographical center of Brazil and is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna. The Amazon pink dolphin, spider monkeys, and the Brazilian tapir are also residents. In 2000, a network of protectors was established to slow the rate of forest destruction.

Largest Forest in Asia

The immense boreal forest, often known as the Siberian taiga, stretches from the Ural Mountains east to the Pacific Ocean, covering an area of around 2.6 million square miles.6 It begins in the Arctic periphery of Russia and continues to southern Mongolia, where taiga gives way to the tundra. Like the taiga in the rest of the boreal zone, the taiga in Siberia is largely a conifer environment, consisting of spruce, pine, and larch in its western reaches and, later, vast expanses of larch in its eastern Russian and Mongolian outposts.

Wide angle shot of trees in a slope forest with views of the mountains.

(Image: Elkwiki15)

Dense tree growth in the south creates closed-canopy forests, where only a little light reaches the moss-covered ground below. But as you get more north, the trees thin out, and lichen takes over the moss. Broadleaf species like birch, aspen, and willow coexist alongside the dominating conifers in more temperate regions.

Which Country Has the Largest Forest Area in the World?

As one of the World’s most significant countries, Russia also boasts one of the greatest forest areas. This area has the largest forest cover and the densest, largest woods in the World. Russia’s woods are world-famous for their expansiveness, taking up over 45.40 percent of the Country’s total territory and making Russia home to the World’s biggest forest.

It has been calculated that the full size is 7762602 square kilometers. According to estimates from scientists, this region was around the same size as Australia.

Percentage of Forest Cover in World 2020

The largest forest in the world ecosystem is more diverse than others, making them an important part of global biodiversity. The World’s forests occupy 31% of the Earth’s surface. Moreover, a third of the forest is unaltered primary forest, accounting for around half of the total forest area.

Image of tall trees in the middle of the forest with rays of sunset.

(Image: Seaq6816)

Even though there are 4.06 billion hectares of forests total_ roughly 5,000 square meters_ per person, forest cover is not spread uniformly over the planet. 66 percent of the World’s woods are located in only ten nations (Russia, Brazil, Canada, the United States of America, and China). In contrast, more than half (51%) are located in just five nations.

A significant factor in the continuing decline of biodiversity is the alarming pace at which forests are being cut down and degraded. Although deforestation rates have decreased over the previous three decades, it is projected that 420 million hectares of forest have been destroyed since 1990 due to the transformation into another farmland.

Oldest Forest in the World

Cairo, New York, is the oldest forest in the World. The Daintree Rainforest resembles ancient woodlands from far before the Industrial Revolution in many respects and is therefore like a living, breathing fossil.

However, new research in Greene County’s Cairo town, New York, has uncovered fossils from an earlier forest. Archaeopteris, a distant ancestor of the luxuriant trees we know today, had its petrified roots unearthed by Binghamton University scientists in 2019.

These fossils were discovered in a quarry in upstate New York and are thought to be about 385 million years old.1 It’s tough to imagine the Paleozoic Forest, but the old trees had flat leaves, massive root systems, and thick trunks.

Oldest Forest in Europe

The Bialowieza Forest, on the border of Poland and Belarus, is a huge, well-preserved wilderness area that fits the bill. And it’s no surprise why; this forest is all that is left of the massive primeval forest that once blanketed Europe, and as such, it’s often seen as Europe’s last actual jungle, a place right out of a fairy tale, where nature has been allowed to flourish unchecked since the Middle Ages.

High angle shot of a river between brown and snowy mountain with trees covered in snow.

(Image: Mikhail Nilov17)

True enough, even in the 21st century, in a world dominated by humans, the Bialowieza forest is largely untouched, so it still encloses quiet zones. Similar to how the Amazon rainforest continues to be so vast and uncharted despite deforestation, and the Siberian forests comprise a great swath of invincible nature, the Bialowieza forest suffers a lot from illegal logging and climate change, the two biggest threats today.

Where Is Kakamega Forest Located?

Kakamega Rainforest is Kenya’s only tropical rainforest. The last remnant of the Country’s ancient rainforest is in Western Kenya and spread over a broader region. Hundreds of bird species live there, including several endangered ones and different kinds of primates.

Wide angle shot overlooking the Kakamega rainforest and its trees.

(Image: User:Doron8)

Large trees characterize the Kakamega flora. Over 350 distinct plant species thrive here, 160 of which are indigenous, including ferns, orchids, and the medicinal camphor basil.

The biggest and oldest tree in Kakamega may be found at Isecheno. Maesopsis eminii, locally known as “mama Mutere,” is a 250-year-old, 40-meter-tall tree. This tree’s bark has been used in traditional medicine to treat gastrointestinal problems and may also be effective against prostate cancer.

Although huge creatures like elephants are uncommon in Kakamega, there are several species of birds, snakes, and butterflies. Here, you may find 400 distinct species of butterflies.

Oldest Forest in America

Tongass National Forest in the state of Alaska is the oldest in the U.S. Some of the World’s oldest trees, many of which date back more than 800 years, may be found in the Tongass National Forest. Almost 12 feet in diameter at chest height, spruce, cedar, and western hemlock trees extend more than 200 feet into the sky.

These amazing trees identify the region of southeast Alaska with one of the last great wonders of natural and biological richness and account for 30% of the World’s temperate rainforests. Bald eagles, grizzly bears, wolves from the Alexander Archipelago, goshawks, and marbled murrelets are among the rarest animals on Earth.

Close up image of a brown grizzly bear in the forest surround by trees.

(Image: Janko Ferlic9)

The Icy Straight, a twisting river fed by ancient glaciers, carries three times as much vital organic carbon to the ocean than the Amazon River. As a result, it sustains a rich marine food web that includes everything from krill and sea lions to whales and a variety of salmon. Visit the Tongass today before the old-growth trees and animal habitat are lost to the timber-cutting plan threatening the forest.

Which Is the Second Largest Forest in the World? (2nd Largest Forest in the World)

Congo Forest in Africa is the second largest forest in the world after the Amazon. It covers an area of 3,000,000 square kilometers. The forest straddles the borders of six countries, and about 600 tree species, 10,000 animal species, and over a thousand bird species call the Congo Rainforest home.

The World’s second-largest Congo River begins in this region. The Congo Basin is the only known haven for all three species of gorilla_ the lowland gorilla, the critically endangered mountain gorilla, and the rare eastern lowland gorilla.


References

1Binghamton University State University of New York. (2022, August 18). The First Trees: Preserving ‘The World’s Oldest Forest’ in Upstate New York. BingUNews. Retrieved August 20, 2022, from <https://www.binghamton.edu/news/story/3780/the-first-trees-preserving-the-worlds-oldest-forest-in-upstate-new-york>

2Business Automation. (2022). Sundarbans: The Largest Mangrove Forest of the Earth. Bangladesh Tourism Board. Retrieved August 20, 2022, from <https://beautifulbangladesh.gov.bd/newsletter/single/206>

3EOS Project Science Office. (2022). World of Change: Amazon Deforestation. NASA Earth Observatory. Retrieved August 20, 2022, from <https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/world-of-change/Deforestation>

4Forest Cover: International Comparisons. (2022). Forest Research. Retrieved August 20, 2022, from <https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-and-resources/statistics/forestry-statistics/forestry-statistics-2018/international-forestry-3/forest-cover-international-comparisons/>

5United States Government. (2017, November 15). The Context of Tropical Rainforest Deforestation and Degradation. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved August 20, 2022, from <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7123066/>

6United States Government. (2019, April 23). The Future of Southeast Asia’s Forests. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved August 20, 2022, from <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6478739/>

7United States Government. (2022). Welcome to the Tongass National Forest. USDA Forest Service. Retrieved August 20, 2022, from <https://www.fs.usda.gov/tongass>

8User:Doron. (CC BY-SA 3.0). Resized. Wikimedia Commons. Retrieved from <https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:KakamegaForest.jpg>

9Janko Ferlic. Pexels. Retrieved from <https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-photography-of-grizzly-bear-1068554/>

10woodypino. Pixabay. Retrieved from <https://pixabay.com/photos/sedona-arizona-rock-travel-valley-1739344/>

11David Riaño Cortés. Pexels. Retrieved from <https://www.pexels.com/photo/rainforest-surrounded-by-fog-975771/>

12Lukas. Pexels. Retrieved from <https://www.pexels.com/photo/brown-chop-logs-on-outdoor-296333/>

13Ursula Drake. Unsplash. Retrieved from <https://unsplash.com/photos/C48jia5tQuk>

14RivieraBarnes. (CC BY-SA 4.0). Resized. Wikimedia Commons. Retrieved from <https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:KL_Forest_Eco-Park_Canopy_Walk_9.jpg>

15Elkwiki. (CC BY-SA 3.0). Resized. Wikimedia Commons. Retrieved from <https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Siberian_autumn_in_taiga..JPG>

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17Mikhail Nilov. Pexels. Retrieved from <https://www.pexels.com/photo/river-between-brown-snowy-and-mountain-7300312/>