World Heritage forests : Carbon sinks under pressure

Forests are some of the most biodiverse habitats on Earth and play a crucial role in climate regulation by absorbing carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere. Forests in UNESCO World Heritage sites cover 69 million hectares and are collectively strong net carbon sinks responsible for absorbing millions of tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere each year. However, despite their global recognition and protection status at the national level, 10 World Heritage forests were net carbon sources between 2001 and 2020 due to anthropogenic stressors. Ensuring strong and sustained protection of World Heritage forests and surrounding landscapes is crucial for maximizing their value as solutions to climate change mitigation, climate change adaptation and biodiversity conservation.