The Least Forested Countries In The World Forests are some of the world’s most important ecosystems because they harbor important tree species, host multitudes of animals, and play critical roles in the hydrological circle. They also add beauty to the landscape and are important sources of livelihood for most communities. The UNFAO defines a forest as a land area spanning over 0.5 ha (0.005 square kilometers) and covered by trees rising at least 5 meters. These areas do not include land under agricultural use, even if the crops are higher than 5 meters. Forest in the Altai Territory of Russia. By the above definition, forests cover approximately 31% of the Earth’s total land area, about 4.06 billion hectares (40.6 million square kilometers). Primary forests (forests dominated by native species and are largely undisturbed by human activities) account for about one-third of the total forest area. Europe, the second-smallest continent, has the most forest cover of any continent. Its forests cover about 1.015 billion hectares, with the Russian Federation accounting for 81% of the continent’s forest cover. Asia, the world’s largest continent, is the second-least forested continent, with just about 593 hectares of forest cover.