The rate of deforestation in Africa and Asia is “alarmingly high” although many developed countries are increasing their forest cover.

That’s according to Eva Muller, forestry director at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) ,who is at UN Headquarters in New York to attend the UN Forum on Forests.

She said that agricultural demand accounts for around 80 per cent of deforestation worldwide.

She told Matthew Wells that there needs to be a new “interlinked” approach to help protect forests, as enshrined in the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Duration: 4’30”