Since 1990, global forests have lost carbon stored in their biomass in almost all regions, adding to global carbon emissions. The total carbon stock held in forest biomass fell by an estimated 0.5 gigatonnes annually from 2005 to 2010, primarily due to a reduction in global forest area. Stemming these damaging releases of carbon requires sustainable forest management worldwide to limit deforestation and allow forests to maintain their crucial role in ecosystem health. Impacts on natural and human systems are projected to span the globe, with varying effects region to region.