For travellers who love greens and dream of disappearing into dense rainforests, walking beneath towering trees or spotting wildlife far from crowded tourist trails, some countries offer a very different kind of holiday experience. The Worldometer ranking, based on FAOSTAT data, puts Russia, Brazil, Canada, the United States, China, DR Congo, Australia, Indonesia, Peru and India among the top 10 countries by total forest area.Let’s take a deeper look at these countries forest side:Russia (814.8 million hectares)
Russia forest (Canva)
Russia has by far the world’s largest forest area, with 814,848,460 hectares of forest. Much of this forest belt forms part of the taiga, the vast boreal forest stretching across Siberia. It is a landscape of conifers, lakes, rivers and long winters. These forests are also natural home to wildlife including brown bears, wolves, lynx and the Siberian tiger. For travellers, Russia’s forests offer experiences ranging from remote Siberian wilderness to the forests surrounding Lake Baikal.Brazil (491.57 million hectares)
Brazil (Canva)
Brazil comes second with 491,570,000 hectares of forest. The country’s forest story is dominated by the Amazon, the world’s largest tropical rainforest. Travellers visiting Brazil can experience the rainforest around destinations such as Manaus, where river journeys offer access to the Amazon’s extraordinary ecosystem.Canada (346.98 million hectares)
Canada (Canva)
The third spot is taken by Canada with 346,975,800 hectares of forest. Its forests stretch across huge parts of the country, creating some of the world’s most dramatic wilderness landscapes. For travellers, Canada’s forests are closely connected with hiking, camping, canoeing and wildlife watching. Bears, moose, wolves and other wildlife can be encountered across different regions.United States (310.65 million hectares)
Yellowstone National Park (Canva)
The United States has 310,645,000 hectares of forest, making it the fourth-largest country by total forest area. Travellers can explore the giant trees of California and the Pacific Northwest to the Appalachian forests in the east and the boreal landscapes of Alaska.China (211.41 million hectares)
China (Canva)
China ranks fifth with 211,405,700 hectares of forest. The country’s forests range from subtropical landscapes in the south to temperate and mountainous forests farther north.The bamboo forests around Chengdu and Sichuan offer encounters with giant pandas, while mountainous forest landscapes can be found around destinations such as Zhangjiajie.Democratic Republic of the Congo (151.96 million hectares)
Congo (Canva)
The sixth spot is taken by the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). It has 151,955,200 hectares of forest. Much of this forest forms part of the Congo Basin, one of the world’s most important tropical rainforest regions. For adventurous travellers, the country’s forests offer rare wildlife experiences. The DRC is home to mountain gorillas, eastern lowland gorillas, chimpanzees and the endangered bonobo.Australia (125.37 million hectares)
Australia (Canva)
Australia ranks seventh on the list with 125,367,000 hectares of forest. Its forests look very different and are eucalyptus dominated. Travellers can explore forests around Queensland’s Daintree Rainforest, one of Australia’s best-known tropical forest destinations, or experience the country’s vast eucalyptus landscapes.Indonesia (89.64 million hectares)
Indonesia (canva)
Indonesia ranks eighth with 89,641,200 hectares of forest. For travellers, some of the most memorable forest experiences can be found on islands such as Sumatra, Borneo and Papua. Sumatra’s forests, for instance, are among the places where visitors can seek out orangutans in their natural habitat.Peru (73.64 million hectares)
Peru (Canva)
Peru is on the ninth spot on the list with 73,637,800 hectares of forest globally. While Peru is internationally famous for Machu Picchu and the Andes, a huge part of its natural landscape lies in the Amazon Basin. Destinations such as Tambopata and the Amazon around Iquitos offer travellers a very different side of Peru.India (71.04 million hectares)
India (Canva)
India rounds off the top 10 with 71,038,800 hectares of forest. Travellers can find Himalayan forests in the north, tropical forests in the Western Ghats and Northeast, dry deciduous forests across central India and mangrove ecosystems along the coast. Some of the country’s most popular wildlife destinations are forest-based, including Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Corbett, Kaziranga and Ranthambore.
