Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The question focuses on a specific sub-category of global forest area: "Planted Forests" (plantations and other managed reforestation units). It refers to the FAO's Global Forest Resources Assessment.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
• Definition: Planted forests are forests composed of trees established through planting and/or deliberate seeding. This is distinct from naturally regenerating forests.
• Global Statistics: According to the FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment 2020 (cited in SOFO 2022), the total area of planted forests in the world is 294 million hectares.
• Percentage of Total: This constitutes approximately 7 percent of the total global forest area (the 4.06 billion ha mentioned previously).
• Trends: The area of planted forests increased by 7.2 million ha per year between 1990 and 2000, and the rate of increase has stabilized at just under 1 percent annually in the most recent assessment period.
• Significance: Although they occupy a small fraction of the total forest land, planted forests provide a disproportionately high amount (nearly half) of the world's industrial roundwood.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The area under planted forests globally is 294 million hectares.