India, Oct. 22 -- Lush, green and brimming with trees and wildlife, forests are the Earth's lungs and source of livelihoods for many communities.

Nearly 500 million hectares (ha) - equivalent to around 750 million football pitches - have been lost since 1990.

Deforestation has slowed down in every region of the world in the past decade, however, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

Deforestation refers to the loss of forest or its conversion for other use, such as urban use or wasteland.

Every year for the past decade, the world has been losing around 10.9 million ha of forest. That rate is an improvement compared to the 13.6 million ha being lost annually in the previous period, and the 17.6 million before tha...