The 5^th edition of the State of the Forest Report 2018, has been released by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment. The report is prepared to meet the requirements of the National Forests Act of 1998 (Act No. 84 of 1998). Section 6 of the Act mandates the Department to conduct forest monitoring, which includes, the monitoring of the maintenance and development of forests with reference to: (a) forest resources; (b) biological diversity in forests; (c) health and vitality of forests; (d) productive functions of forests; (e) protective and environmental functions; and (f) social functions of forests. Accordingly, this report provides data and information on forestry facts and trends in South Africa for the period 2016-2018.