15.2.1 Forest area under an independently verified forest management in Western Europe
Western Europe: 15.2.1 Forest area under an independently verified forest management was 19,301 1000 ha in 2024. ▲ Rising
15.2.1 Forest area under an independently verified forest management in Western Europe, 1990–2024
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Measured in 1000 ha.
Analysis
Western Europe recorded 19,301 1000 ha for 15.2.1 forest area under an independently verified forest management in 2024.
That represents a change of down 9.7% on the previous year and down 1.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, 15.2.1 forest area under an independently verified forest management in Western Europe peaked at 21,385 1000 ha in 2023 and was at its lowest, 0 1000 ha, in 1990.
That places Western Europe 12th out of 33 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 14 years of available data.
15.2.1 Forest area under an independently verified forest management in Western Europe, year by year
| Year | 1000 ha | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 0 1000 ha | — |
| 2000 | 3,949 1000 ha | — |
| 2005 | 15,970 1000 ha | +304.4% |
| 2010 | 15,564 1000 ha | -2.5% |
| 2015 | 19,661 1000 ha | +26.3% |
| 2016 | 19,855 1000 ha | +1.0% |
| 2017 | 20,060 1000 ha | +1.0% |
| 2018 | 20,047 1000 ha | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 20,041 1000 ha | -0.0% |
| 2020 | 17,872 1000 ha | -10.8% |
| 2021 | 18,886 1000 ha | +5.7% |
| 2022 | 19,274 1000 ha | +2.1% |
| 2023 | 21,385 1000 ha | +11.0% |
| 2024 | 19,301 1000 ha | -9.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0 1000 ha | 0 1000 ha | 0 1000 ha | 1 |
| 2000s | 9,960 1000 ha | 3,949 1000 ha | 15,970 1000 ha | 2 |
| 2010s | 19,205 1000 ha | 15,564 1000 ha | 20,060 1000 ha | 6 |
| 2020s | 19,344 1000 ha | 17,872 1000 ha | 21,385 1000 ha | 5 |
Countries ranked near Western Europe
More environment data for Western Europe
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -3.94 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -3.1 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.485 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 2.23 °C (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Total fibre furnish — Production, annual growth rate -4.18 % change on previous year (2024)
- Other paper and paperboard, not elsewhere specified — Import value -2.05 % change on previous year (2024)
- Exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 2.84 Percentage change (2024)
- Exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 3.13 Percentage change (2024)
- Other paper and paperboard, not elsewhere specified — Import 11.81 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is 15.2.1 forest area under an independently verified forest management in Western Europe?
- 15.2.1 forest area under an independently verified forest management in Western Europe was 19,301 1000 ha in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
- What is the highest 15.2.1 forest area under an independently verified forest management recorded in Western Europe?
- The highest recorded value was 21,385 1000 ha in 2023.
- What is the lowest 15.2.1 forest area under an independently verified forest management recorded in Western Europe?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 1000 ha in 1990.
- How does Western Europe rank for 15.2.1 forest area under an independently verified forest management?
- Western Europe ranks 12th out of 33 groups with data for 2024.
- Is 15.2.1 forest area under an independently verified forest management rising or falling in Western Europe?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Western Europe data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, published as part of 15.2.1 Forest area under an independently verified forest management certification scheme — Value. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 14 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (FAO).
About this data
As the custodian agency of 22 SDG indicators, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is responsible for curating and refining the methodologies of these indicators, collecting data from national sources, ensuring their quality and compatibility with applicable standards and classifications, and disseminating data at global level. This FAOSTAT domain complements the global SDG database administered by the United Nations Statistical Division (UNSD), as well as FAO’s SDG indicators portal, by providing access to the available data for all SDG Indicators under FAO custodianship. While this metadata page provides summary information on all SDG indicators data disseminated through FAOSTAT, indicator-specific metadata can be accessed from the link on the right hand navigation column. This additional metadata file provides details on the methodology used to compile each indicators, their data sources and the contact information of the relevant FAO focal point. It includes the links to the official SDG Indicator metadata documents accessible from the UNSD global SDG database.SDG Indicators under FAO custodianship, consisting of 22 indicators and 66 series that fall under six goals: • Goal 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.• Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.• Goal 6: Clean water and sanitation: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.• Goal 12: Responsible consumption and production.• Goal 14: Life below water: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources.• Goal 15: Life on land: Sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, halt biodiversity loss.