High-risk Forests, High-value Returns: A Co-benefit Assessment for Decision Makers

This report finds that the tropical forests most at risk of being lost, defined here as “highrisk forests”, are also the most vital to people. High-risk forests, as referenced in the report, are areas with high carbon stocks, significant additional ecosystem services, and a high likelihood of deforestation. Together they cover about 391 million hectares, an area comparable to the European Union. Because of their combined carbon and ecosystem value, high-risks forests represent a strategic focus for climate mitigation. Protecting these will prevent the release of large-scale emissions but also helps maintain vital ecosystem services, safeguarding a substantial share of co-benefits that would otherwise be lost. The added value of this report lies in its use of spatial data and quantified evidence to identify where these forests are most threatened and where protection would deliver the greatest benefits. This approach provides countries, policymakers, and investors with practical information to prioritize action and to help meet global targets such as the United Nations Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation’s (UN-REDD) target of reducing 1 GtCO₂e of deforestation emissions per year.