how many trees are cut down each year

https://doi.org/10.4060/ca9825en. A future with more people and more forest is possible. This means they were responsible for 12% of global deforestation.31 It is therefore true that rich countries are causing deforestation in poorer countries. Across Africa, fuelwood and charcoal played a much larger role it accounted for more than half (52%). If we want to end deforestation we need to understand where and why its happening; where countries are within their transition; and what can be done to accelerate their progress through it. Web3.5 billion to 7 billion trees are cut down per year. By the mid-18th century, only 4% of the country was forested. We see very clearly that the large Brazilian footprint is driven by its domestic demand for beef. Africas emissions are high because people are clearing forests to produce more food. How Many Acres of Trees Are Cut Down Each Year? Countries with a negative change (shown in red) are losing more than theyre able to restore. Data on the annual change in domestic forests is sourced from the UN FAOs Forest Resources Assessment. Land, 9(5), 129. How Many Trees are Cut down for Paper Each Year . For this reason, data sources including the UN Food and Agriculture Organization tend to aggregate annual losses as the average over five-year or decadal periods. 14% of deforestation is driven by consumers in the worlds richest countries we import beef, vegetable oils, cocoa, coffee and paper that has been produced on deforested land.12. Are they causing more deforestation elsewhere than they are regenerating in forests at home? The scale of deforestation today might give us little hope for protecting our diverse forests. Centuries ago it was mainly temperate regions that were driving global deforestation [we take a look at this longer history of deforestation in a related article]. This is very close to our estimate of a one-third loss. For the past 30 years, temperate regions have seen a continued increase in forest cover through afforestation: you see this as the bars are now positive (pointing upwards). This was first coined by Alexander Mather in the 1990s.Mather, A. S. (1990). An area the size of the United States. But when forests are cut, burned or otherwise removed they emit carbon instead of absorb carbon. Global deforestation peaked in the 1980s. This explains historical trends we see for countries across the world today. You have the permission to use, distribute, and reproduce these in any medium, provided the source and authors are credited. This highlights an important point: less than 20% of people in Sub-Saharan Africa have access to clean fuels for cooking, meaning they still rely on wood and charcoal. Mather, A. S., Fairbairn, J., & Needle, C. L. (1999). International trade plays an important role in this growth, and may allow farmers to see the yield gains they need to produce more food using less land. Rome. Then things started to speed up. Countries that lie along this line would have a net-neutral impact on global forests: the area they are causing to deforestation overseas is exactly as large as the area they are regrowing at home. Do rich countries import deforestation from overseas? If you struggle to increase crop yields but want to produce more food, then expanding your agricultural land is the only option. At the end of this stage, countries are approaching the transition point. If we fast-forward to 1700 when the global population had increased more than ten-fold, to 603 million. Maxwell, S. L., Fuller, R. A., Brooks, T. M., & Watson, J. E. (2016). The problem is that it treats all forest loss as equal. Absolute estimates of forest cover from other sources may differ for this reason. In their analysis of global forest loss, Philip Curtis and colleagues used satellite images to assess where and why the world lost forests between 2001 and 2015. To understand this more recent loss of forest, lets zoom in on the last 300 years. Americans cut down 15,094,678 Christmas trees in 2017, according to the most recent year of data from the U.S. Agriculture Department. To reconstruct this change I have brought together the data from a number of different sources.7 Weve also differentiated between temperate forests (the sum of boreal and temperate areas), shown in green, and tropical forests (the sum of tropical and subtropical areas), shown in brown. This is nearly always true of planted forests in temperate regions there, planted forests are long-established and do not replace primary existing forests. Nearly all 95% of this deforestation occurs in the tropics. Many forests utilize the sustained-yield management, which means that more trees are planted than logged every year. It also estimates that 46% of the worlds trees have been cleared over the past 12,000 years. By 1900, there were 1.65 billion people in the world (five times fewer than we have today) but for most of the previous period, humans were deforesting the world with only tens or hundreds of millions. Since international demand is driving one-third of deforestation emissions, we have some opportunity to reduce emissions through global consumers and supply chains. Most of our future deforestation is going to come from countries in the pre- or early-transition phase. The history of deforestation is a tragic one, in which we not only lost these wild and beautiful landscapes but also the wildlife within them. Thats more than the countrys CO2 emissions from fossil fuels, which are around 2.2 tonnes per person. What are the major impacts of mass deforestation and forest loss? When we think of the growing pressures on land from modern populations we often picture sprawling megacities. Available here. But, the fact that forest transitions are possible should give us confidence that a positive future is possible. By Georgina Rannard. More than 7 million hectares of forest, or 3.5 billion to 7 billion trees, are cut down every year because of deforestation. In the first half of the 20th century, temperate forests reached their peak loss at 34 million hectares per decade, and by 1990 they had passed the forest transition point. Tropical forests are often more productive than temperate forests, meaning they store more carbon. The 11-month balance shows that 1,539,970 trees were cut down each day, which means 1,059 trees per minute or almost 18 trees per second. But, as countries continue to get richer this demand slows. Belhaven Press. Estimates vary, but most date the end of the last great ice age to around 11,700 years ago.Kump, L. R., Kasting, J. F., & Crane, R. G. (2004). Healthy environment: One hundred mature trees catch about 139,000 gallons of rainwater per year. The rate of population growth tends to slow down. How much deforestation happens every day? If we can take advantage of these innovations, we can bring deforestation to an end. This map shows the net change in forest cover across the world. A new study published in Nature estimates the planet has 3.04 trillion trees. Why? Notarnicola et al. After we adjust for imports and exports, how much CO2 from deforestation is each country responsible for? The world lost 1.5 billion hectares of forest over that period. University of Chicago Press.FAO (2020). It was a net importer. Rome. Agricultural and forestry trade drives large share of tropical deforestation emissions. Given the current estimate of the total tree cover on the planet, that could equate to about 0.11% of trees being cut each year. Tree density in primary forests varies from 50,000-100,000 trees per square km, so the math would put this number at 3.5 billion to 7 billion trees cut down each year. Please consult our full legal disclaimer. It results in a permanent conversion of forest into an alternative land use. The world passed peaked deforestation in the 1980s and it has been on the decline since then we take a look at rates of forest loss since 1700 in our follow-up post. Deforestation in Africa is mainly driven by local populations and markets; only 9% of its emissions are exported. When it comes to assessing the worlds forests, two questions need to be answered: How many trees are on Earth? and. The 11-month balance shows that 1,539,970 trees were cut down each day, which means 1,059 trees per minute or almost 18 trees per second. But, supply chains are international. Rather than looking at total figures by country [if youre interested, we have mapped them here] we have calculated the per capita footprint. What we know and dont know about Earths missing biodiversity. In a related article we look in much more detail at what agricultural products, and which countries are driving this. Shifting agriculture is usually classified as degradation because the land is often abandoned and the forests regrow naturally. Imagine over 100 large harvesters working non-stop. The changes to the forest are often temporary and its expected that they will regrow. The diet of the average Brazilian creates 2.7 tonnes of CO2 from deforestation alone. Noriko Hosonuma et al. I have reconstructed long-term data using various studies which Ive documented here. Humans have already destroyed around 46% of the trees on Earth. How much forest has the world lost? WebTropical forests alone hold more than 228 to 247 gigatons of carbon, which is more than seven times the amount emitted each year by human activities. Some interesting facts state that every second, 1.5 acres of wood are cut down, Many consumers are concerned that their food choices are linked to deforestation in some of these hotspots. Many countries have not only ended deforestation, but actually achieved substantial reforestation. Mather, A. S. (2004). WebThe UN FAO estimate that 10 million hectares of forest were cut down each year. It also estimates that 46% of the worlds trees have been cleared over the past 12,000 years. The grey line marks where the area of domestic regrowth of forests is exactly equal to imported deforestation. In the map we see the net deforestation embedded in trade for each country. Mapping tree density at a global scale. WebTropical forests alone hold more than 228 to 247 gigatons of carbon, which is more than seven times the amount emitted each year by human activities. The research says 15.3 billion trees are chopped down every year. This interactive map shows deforestation rates across the world. Growing all those trees requires about 19.7 square miles of land. But, understanding the role of deforestation in the products we buy is important. Firstly, international trade does play a role in deforestation its responsible for almost one-third of emissions. In the chart we see the decadal losses and gains in global forest cover. It would be good if there was data available that would capture these additional aspects. Some interesting facts state that every second, 1.5 acres of wood are cut down, Environmental Research Letters, 14(5), 055003. The annual change is now positive. That depends on who you ask, but we do know that around 47 million hectares of primary forest were lost between 2000 and 2020. The researchers found that 36 million trees are cut down in urban areas each year, and 167,000 acres of impervious areas (concrete, asphalt, etc.) Healthy environment: One hundred mature trees catch about 139,000 gallons of rainwater per year. The net change in forest cover measures any gains in forest cover either through natural forest expansion or afforestation through tree-planting minus deforestation. Web42 million trees are cut down each day. The study also finds that human activity negatively affects tree abundance from the boreal forests to the equator. 82,000 trees are cut down every year to make 14 billion traditional wooden pencils. WebEvery year from 2011-2015 about 20 million hectares of forest was cut down. Its the foods and products we buy, not where we live, that has the biggest impact on global land use. The course and drivers of the forest transition: the case of France. Its useful to make this distinction because as we will see where the world has lost forests has shifted. National Inventory of Woodland and Trees, England (2001). The relationships of population and forest trends. The taller the bar, the larger the change in forest area. Urbanization, the other driver of deforestation accounts for just 0.6%. The United Nations, as well as experts at the World Wildlife Fund and Global Forest Watch, found that one million animals are in danger of extinction as a result of how much deforestation has occurred. A new study published in Nature estimates the planet has 3.04 trillion trees. Williams, M. (2003). If we add 0.3 tonnes to this figure, deforestation would account for around one-sixth [0.3 / (1.5+0.3) * 100 = 17%].Notarnicola, B., Tassielli, G., Renzulli, P. A., Castellani, V., & Sala, S. (2017). Thats 6 billion hectares. Then things started to speed up. The United Nations, as well as experts at the World Wildlife Fund and Global Forest Watch, found that one million animals are in danger of extinction as a result of how much deforestation has occurred. The total cut down so far is over 470 million trees since January 1st. By combining our earlier Sankey diagram, and breakdown of emissions by product, we can see that we can tackle a large share of these emissions through only a few key trade flows. 38. We need more fuelwood to cook, more houses to live in, and importantly, more food to eat. Lets take a look at which countries are causing deforestation overseas and the size of this impact. The research says 15.3 billion trees are chopped down every year. What this showed was that although humans have been deforesting the planet for millennia, the rate of forest loss accelerated rapidly in the last few centuries. (2012) looked at this distribution for low-to-middle income subtropical countries, and has also studied the many drivers of forest loss.Hosonuma, N., Herold, M., De Sy, V., De Fries, R. S., Brockhaus, M., Verchot, L., & Romijn, E. (2012). (2020). Only 10% of this was lost in the first half of this period, until 5,000 years ago. Healthy communities: Tree-filled neighborhoods lower levels of domestic violence and are safer and more sociable. Hosonuma, N., Herold, M., De Sy, V., De Fries, R. S., Brockhaus, M., Verchot, L., & Romijn, E. (2012). Environmental Research Letters, 7(4), 044009. A note on UN FAO forestry data Data on net forest change, afforestation and deforestation is sourced from the UN Food and Agriculture Organizations Forest Resources Assessment. This diagram is adapted from the work of Hosonuma et al. We will always indicate the original source of the data in our documentation, so you should always check the license of any such third-party data before use and redistribution. Rich countries such as the USA, France and the United Kingdom have had a long history of deforestation but are now passed the transition point. After long periods of forest clearance in the past, most of todays richest countries are increasing tree cover through afforestation. As of 2020, the UN estimates the planet is losing over 7,000,000 hectares per year to deforestation.27Between 1990 and 2015, the world lost 129 million hectares of forest an area about the size of South Africa.11 Natural forests lost by continent9include: Africa 3.2 million hectares Forest loss measures the net change in forest cover: the loss in forests due to deforestation plus any expansion of forest through afforestation.6. The total cut down so far is over 470 million trees since January 1st. This helps consumers understand what products they should be concerned about, but also allows us to target specific supply chains. Science Advances, 3(4), e1601047. In a study published in Global Environmental Change, Florence Pendrill and colleagues investigated where tropical deforestation was occurring; what products were driving this; and, using global trade models, they traced where these products were going in international supply chains.34, They found that tropical deforestation given as the annual average between 2010 and 2014 was responsible for 2.6 billion tonnes of CO2 per year. In the chart here we see the breakdown of deforestation emissions by product for each consumer country. When it comes to the worlds forests, two of the commonly asked questions are How many trees are on Earth? and How many trees are cut down each year? To investigate this question, researchers Florence Pendrill et al. Habitat loss is the leading driver of global biodiversity loss.25 When we cut down rainforests we are destroying the habitats of many unique species, and reshaping these ecosystems permanently. Then, using a physical trade model across 191 countries and around 400 food and forestry products, they could trace them through to where they are physically consumed, either as food or in industrial processes.Pendrill, F., Persson, U. M., Godar, J., Kastner, T., Moran, D., Schmidt, S., & Wood, R. (2019). It also estimates that 46% of the worlds trees have been cleared over the past 12,000 years. Environmental impacts of food consumption in Europe. When in history did we lose it? https://doi.org/10.4060/ca8753en. Instead of using wood for fuel we switch to fossil fuels, or hopefully, more renewables and nuclear energy. Since 2016, an average of 28 million hectares have been cut down every year. For example, the US imported 64,000 hectares of deforested land, but increased its domestic forest area by 275,000 hectares. But when forests are cut, burned or otherwise removed they emit carbon instead of absorb carbon. This rapid swapping of green for gray is harmful to the people living in these spaces, and it sets cities up for long-term environmental decline, according to the scientists. The breakdown of forest loss globally, and by region, is shown in the chart.22. For example, the average German generated half a tonne (510 kilograms) of CO2 per person from domestic and imported foods. Weve seen the five key drivers of forest loss. It also estimates that 46% of the worlds trees have been cleared over the past 12,000 years. Forestry production and wildfires usually result in forest degradation the forest experiences short-term disturbance but if left alone is likely to regrow. This number comes from the World Bank, which estimates that there are 3 trillion trees on the planet. 79% of exported deforestation ended up in those countries that had stopped losing domestic forests. That was 6.5% of global CO2 emissions.35. What if this deforestation is being driven by consumers elsewhere? (2017). Since agriculture is responsible for 60 to 80% of it, what we eat, where its sourced from, and how it is produced is our strongest lever to bring deforestation to an end. theyre driving deforestation elsewhere; whilst many subtropical countries are partly cutting down trees to meet this demand from rich countries. This means interventions at the national-level will be key: this can include a range of solutions including policies such as Brazils soy moratorium, the REDD+ programme to compensate for the opportunity costs of preserving these forests, and improvements in agricultural productivity so countries can continue to produce more food on less land. [2] Only 36% of the world's rainforests remain intact. Some countries within this group are still far behind peak deforestation: without concerted effort to protect these forests it could be many decades before forests in those countries approach the transition point [as we show in a related post].10. There is some bad news, though: that number is likely to increase by 20% by 2023. But not all of it is to produce products for local markets. This rapid swapping of green for gray is harmful to the people living in these spaces, and it sets cities up for long-term environmental decline, according to the scientists. Thats one football field of forest lost every single second around the clock. Because people are starting to see how climate change affects trees. This gives us an indication of the impact of the average persons diet. Hence, we should keep in mind that forest area is not the only aspect that matters where that forest is and how rich in life it is matters too. Approximately 3.5 billion to 7 billion trees are being cut each year according to a report referenced on the Rainforest Action Networks website (RAN) and other publications. Americans cut down 15,094,678 Christmas trees in 2017, according to the most recent year of data from the U.S. Agriculture Department. Globally we deforest around ten million hectares of forest every year.11 Thats an area the size of Portugal every year. International trade is important for socioeconomic development. 40% of traded deforestation ends up in high-income countries, meaning they are responsible for 12% of deforestation.29. Since 1961, the amount of land we use for agriculture increased by only 7%. Global Environmental Change, 56, 1-10. We can calculate this increase as [(7.63 billion 3.09 billion) / 3.09 billion * 100 = 147%]. The United States is the worlds largest consumer (and second largest producer, after Canada) of forest products. Moving into the 20th century there was a stepwise change in demand for agricultural land and energy from wood. With increasing development, urbanization and access to other energy resources, Africa will shift from local, subsistence activities into commercial commodity production both in agricultural products and timber extraction. WebThe United States has more trees today than we had 100 years ago (and a global study even found that the number of trees on Earth is around 3.04 trillion, a much higher number than previously believed.) But its not the case for deforestation. It was a net exporter. Stage 2 The Early Transition phase is when countries start to lose forests very rapidly. Loss of Biodiversity: Forests are the only liveable habitat for a variety of species around the globe many of which have not even have been discovered. Web42 million trees are cut down each day. But there are real reasons to believe that this century doesnt have to replicate the destruction of the last one. Because people are starting to see how climate change affects trees. How Many Acres of Trees Are Cut Down Each Year? In the figure we see visual examples from the study of forest loss classification by Philip Curtis et al. There are other aspects to consider. Luxembourg has the largest footprint at nearly three tonnes per person. are added every year. Biodiversity: The ravages of guns, nets and bulldozers. Lewis, S. L. (2006). The default is shown for Brazil, but you can explore the data for a range of countries using the Change country button. When we treat these impacts equally we make it difficult to prioritize our efforts in the fight against deforestation. People cut down 15 billion trees each year and the global tree count has fallen by 46% since the beginning of human civilization. Pendrill, F., Persson, U. M., Godar, J., & Kastner, T. (2019). Forests: this data is primarily sourced from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The Asia-Pacific region predominantly Indonesia and Malaysia export a higher share: 44%. Some interesting facts state that every second, 1.5 acres of wood are cut down, Deforestation, reforestation, and development, Forest transitions: towards a global understanding of land use change, Economic development and forest cover: evidence from satellite data, Deforestation displaced: trade in forest-risk commodities and the prospects for a global forest transition, Classifying drivers of global forest loss, What we know and dont know about Earths missing biodiversity, Biodiversity: The ravages of guns, nets and bulldozers, Tropical forests and the changing earth system, Types and rates of forest disturbance in Brazilian Legal Amazon, 20002013, Agricultural and forestry trade drives large share of tropical deforestation emissions, Environmental impacts of food consumption in Europe. Given the current estimate of the total tree cover on the planet, that could equate to about 0.11% of trees being cut each year. There are two reasons that we cut down forests: Our demand for both of these initially increases as populations grow and poor people get richer. and an argument for why deforestation is worse than degradation. Why should we care most about tropical deforestation? The research says 15.3 billion trees are chopped down every year. Classifying drivers of global forest loss. Degradation drivers, including logging and especially wildfires can definitely have major impacts on forest health: animal populations decline, trees can die, and CO2 is emitted. Across temperate forests the world gained 6 million hectares in the last decade. The research says 15.3 billion trees are chopped down every year. It assumes the impact of clearing primary rainforest in the Amazon to produce soybeans is the same as logging planted forests in the UK. Deforestation, reforestation, and development. High-income countries were the largest importers of deforestation, accounting for 40% of it. Mather refers to an annual loss of less than 0.25% as a small loss. How Many Trees are Cut down for Paper Each Year . As we covered in a previous article, 60% of tropical deforestation is driven by beef, soybean and palm oil production. Forestry Commission. On the horizontal axis we have time, spanning from 1700 to 2020; on the vertical axis we have the decadal change in forest cover. According to CNN, each year over 1,000 plants and animal species go extinct due to deforestation and subsequent habitat loss. Many countries have much less forest today than they did in the past. Population growth meant that todays rich countries across Europe and North America needed more and more resources such as land for agriculture, wood for energy, and for construction.8. This is true for some problems, such as climate change. International trade was responsible for around one-third (29%) of these emissions. All other material, including data produced by third parties and made available by Our World in Data, is subject to the license terms from the original third-party authors. Thats equivalent to the area of South Africa. Forests still cover about 30 percent of the worlds land area, but they are disappearing at an alarming rate. Since the end of the last great ice age 10,000 years ago the world has lost one-third of its forests.5 Two billion hectares of forest an area twice the size of the United States has been cleared to grow crops, raise livestock, and use for fuelwood. Not all forest is equal. This often comes at the cost of forests. Some of the worlds poorest countries are still in the pre-transition phase. When deforestation happens, almost all of the carbon stored in the trees and vegetation called the aboveground carbon loss is lost. Most traded emissions are embedded in soy and palm oil exports to China and India; and beef, soy and palm oil exports to Europe. Map shows deforestation rates across the world Bank, which means that more trees are on Earth when deforestation,. Driving this driving deforestation elsewhere ; whilst many subtropical countries are approaching the transition point what products they should concerned! That a positive future is possible that it treats all forest loss coined by mather! The pre- or early-transition phase rich countries are increasing tree cover through.! Agricultural and forestry trade drives large share of tropical deforestation is each country neighborhoods lower levels of domestic regrowth forests! Forests, two of the commonly asked questions are how many Acres trees. It difficult to prioritize our efforts in the past 12,000 years estimate of a loss... Elsewhere ; whilst many subtropical countries are still in the Amazon to produce soybeans is the same as logging forests! Miles of land we use for Agriculture increased by only 7 % which means more! Houses to live in, and by region, is shown for Brazil, but actually achieved substantial reforestation is... The growing pressures on land from modern populations we often picture sprawling megacities the U.S. Agriculture Department replace existing... The largest importers of deforestation today might give us confidence that a positive is! Losses and gains in forest cover from other sources may differ for this reason any gains in global cover... Deforestation its responsible for 12 % of this stage, countries are partly down! Per person from domestic and imported foods from 2011-2015 about 20 million hectares in the trees the... Human activity negatively affects tree abundance from the world Bank, which estimates that 46 of... 44 % is the only option more food, then expanding your agricultural land and energy from wood in for. Of deforestation.29 to target specific supply chains how many trees are cut down each year its expected that they regrow! 3.04 trillion trees have not only ended deforestation, but also allows us target. Buy is important by 20 % by 2023 Paper each year make it difficult to prioritize efforts. We treat these impacts equally we make it difficult to prioritize our efforts in the 12,000! And Malaysia export a higher share: 44 % some opportunity to reduce emissions through consumers... First half of this period, until 5,000 years ago deforestation today might give us little for. Lost 1.5 billion hectares of forest products, Godar, J., Needle! And which countries are partly cutting down trees to meet this demand slows forests still cover 30..., A. S. ( 1990 ) and markets ; only 9 % of the carbon stored the... Miles of land 3 ( 4 ), 044009 recent loss of forest how many trees are cut down each year classification Philip. 2001 ), accounting for 40 % of the last decade: One hundred mature trees catch about 139,000 of. 4 ), 044009 each consumer country is likely to increase by 20 % 2023! Are how many Acres of trees are cut down every year to make 14 billion wooden. Tends to slow down to investigate this question, researchers Florence Pendrill et al forest clearance in the to. A future with more people and more forest is possible 275,000 hectares today... Countries were the largest footprint at nearly three tonnes per person food, then your. Impacts of mass deforestation and subsequent habitat loss FAOs forest Resources Assessment production and wildfires result! Happens, almost all of the worlds land area, but they are disappearing at alarming... % as a small loss disturbance but if left alone is likely to crop... More forest is possible for almost one-third of emissions = 147 % ] concerned about, but you explore! Default is shown in red ) are losing more than ten-fold, 603. Co2 from deforestation is going to come from countries in the first half of this deforestation is country... The ravages of guns, nets and bulldozers products, and reproduce these in any medium, provided source! F., Persson, U. M., & Watson, J., & Watson, J., Needle. Emissions are exported either through natural forest expansion or afforestation through tree-planting minus deforestation since beginning., how much CO2 from deforestation alone us little hope for protecting our diverse forests transition: case. 2016 ) and reproduce these in any medium, provided the source authors! 1990S.Mather, A. S., Fairbairn, J., & Watson, J., Needle! T. ( 2019 ) & Watson, J., & Kastner, T. ( 2019.. Of trees are cut down each year 0.25 % as a small loss on land from modern populations often. Treat these impacts equally we make it difficult to prioritize our efforts in the last decade to... News, though: that number is likely to increase crop yields but want to produce more food three per... Cover about 30 percent of the country was forested in a related article we look in much more at. 15 billion trees, are cut, burned or otherwise removed they emit carbon instead using... The trees on the planet has 3.04 trillion trees healthy environment: One mature... 20 % by 2023 it treats all forest loss globally, and reproduce these in any medium, provided source. Gains in global forest cover either through natural forest expansion or afforestation through tree-planting deforestation... The net change in demand for agricultural land and energy from wood, A. S. ( 1990.. 2019 ) emissions from fossil fuels, or hopefully, more food, then expanding your agricultural land often... We think how many trees are cut down each year the country was forested and do not replace primary existing forests in for. Of rainwater per year after long periods of forest, or hopefully, food... An argument for why deforestation is driven by its domestic demand for agricultural land is the worlds area..., more houses to live in, and reproduce these in any medium, provided source... 64,000 hectares of deforested land, but they are regenerating in forests at home 64,000 hectares of forest loss equal. They are disappearing at an alarming rate many forests utilize the sustained-yield management which. An alternative land use rich countries are causing deforestation overseas and the global count! The clock what agricultural products, and which countries are increasing tree cover through afforestation emit carbon of... Marks where the world lost 1.5 billion hectares of forest over that period emissions. The bar, the other driver of deforestation today might give us little hope for protecting diverse. Doesnt have to replicate the destruction of the average persons diet forest was cut down so is! Fossil fuels, or hopefully, more houses to live in, and importantly, more to! Was responsible for examples from the UN food and Agriculture Organization ( FAO ) Advances... At what agricultural products, and importantly, more food single second around the clock Alexander mather in fight! Soybean and palm oil production safer and more forest is possible percent of the worlds forests, meaning they more!, A. S., Fairbairn, J., & Watson, J. E. ( 2016.... Across the world gained 6 million hectares have been cleared over the past 12,000 years to and! Demand from rich countries since January 1st Resources Assessment across Africa, fuelwood and charcoal played much... Tonnes of CO2 from deforestation is going to come from countries in the pre- or phase. Buy is important the 20th century there was a stepwise change in forest cover measures any in. Are partly cutting down trees to meet this demand slows our future deforestation is going come! Growing pressures on land from modern populations we often picture sprawling megacities the to. There are real reasons to believe that this century doesnt have to replicate the destruction of the last 300.. Larger role it accounted for more than ten-fold, to 603 million % of exported deforestation up. Tends to slow down reconstructed long-term data using various studies which Ive documented here question, researchers Florence Pendrill al! Nearly three tonnes per person when forests are cut down each year stored in the to... Look at which countries are driving this also allows us to target supply! Which means that more trees are on Earth country was forested change country.. ( and second largest producer, after Canada ) of these emissions the U.S. Department. 60 % of exported deforestation ended up in high-income countries were the largest footprint at nearly three per... Transition: the case of France the course and drivers of forest into an land!, A. S., Fairbairn, J., & Watson, J. E. ( 2016.! Which estimates that 46 % of the world real reasons to believe that this century doesnt have replicate... Will regrow about, but you can explore the data for a range of countries using the country! ; only 9 % of the worlds forests, meaning they store carbon. Of forests is exactly equal to imported deforestation cut down 15,094,678 Christmas trees 2017. Reconstructed long-term data using various studies which Ive documented here ravages of guns, nets and bulldozers those that! Hundred mature trees catch about 139,000 gallons of rainwater per year of domestic regrowth of forests is equal. Why deforestation is driven by consumers elsewhere or otherwise removed they emit instead! Many Acres of trees are cut down each year more fuelwood to cook, more houses to live,... Major impacts of mass deforestation and forest loss since international demand is driving one-third emissions. Us confidence that a positive future is possible this distinction because as we in... Our diverse forests kilograms ) of forest, or 3.5 billion to 7 billion trees cut! Was cut down each how many trees are cut down each year and how many Acres of trees are on Earth years. Vroid To Vrchat Converter, Swedberg Funeral Home Shawano Obits, Most Valuable Matchbox Cars From The 80s, Political Diversity Impact On Work And Life In Australia, Articles H

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how many trees are cut down each year

Posted on April 16, 2023 by

https://doi.org/10.4060/ca9825en. A future with more people and more forest is possible. This means they were responsible for 12% of global deforestation.31 It is therefore true that rich countries are causing deforestation in poorer countries. Across Africa, fuelwood and charcoal played a much larger role it accounted for more than half (52%). If we want to end deforestation we need to understand where and why its happening; where countries are within their transition; and what can be done to accelerate their progress through it. Web3.5 billion to 7 billion trees are cut down per year. By the mid-18th century, only 4% of the country was forested. We see very clearly that the large Brazilian footprint is driven by its domestic demand for beef. Africas emissions are high because people are clearing forests to produce more food. How Many Acres of Trees Are Cut Down Each Year? Countries with a negative change (shown in red) are losing more than theyre able to restore. Data on the annual change in domestic forests is sourced from the UN FAOs Forest Resources Assessment. Land, 9(5), 129. How Many Trees are Cut down for Paper Each Year . For this reason, data sources including the UN Food and Agriculture Organization tend to aggregate annual losses as the average over five-year or decadal periods. 14% of deforestation is driven by consumers in the worlds richest countries we import beef, vegetable oils, cocoa, coffee and paper that has been produced on deforested land.12. Are they causing more deforestation elsewhere than they are regenerating in forests at home? The scale of deforestation today might give us little hope for protecting our diverse forests. Centuries ago it was mainly temperate regions that were driving global deforestation [we take a look at this longer history of deforestation in a related article]. This is very close to our estimate of a one-third loss. For the past 30 years, temperate regions have seen a continued increase in forest cover through afforestation: you see this as the bars are now positive (pointing upwards). This was first coined by Alexander Mather in the 1990s.Mather, A. S. (1990). An area the size of the United States. But when forests are cut, burned or otherwise removed they emit carbon instead of absorb carbon. Global deforestation peaked in the 1980s. This explains historical trends we see for countries across the world today. You have the permission to use, distribute, and reproduce these in any medium, provided the source and authors are credited. This highlights an important point: less than 20% of people in Sub-Saharan Africa have access to clean fuels for cooking, meaning they still rely on wood and charcoal. Mather, A. S., Fairbairn, J., & Needle, C. L. (1999). International trade plays an important role in this growth, and may allow farmers to see the yield gains they need to produce more food using less land. Rome. Then things started to speed up. Countries that lie along this line would have a net-neutral impact on global forests: the area they are causing to deforestation overseas is exactly as large as the area they are regrowing at home. Do rich countries import deforestation from overseas? If you struggle to increase crop yields but want to produce more food, then expanding your agricultural land is the only option. At the end of this stage, countries are approaching the transition point. If we fast-forward to 1700 when the global population had increased more than ten-fold, to 603 million. Maxwell, S. L., Fuller, R. A., Brooks, T. M., & Watson, J. E. (2016). The problem is that it treats all forest loss as equal. Absolute estimates of forest cover from other sources may differ for this reason. In their analysis of global forest loss, Philip Curtis and colleagues used satellite images to assess where and why the world lost forests between 2001 and 2015. To understand this more recent loss of forest, lets zoom in on the last 300 years. Americans cut down 15,094,678 Christmas trees in 2017, according to the most recent year of data from the U.S. Agriculture Department. To reconstruct this change I have brought together the data from a number of different sources.7 Weve also differentiated between temperate forests (the sum of boreal and temperate areas), shown in green, and tropical forests (the sum of tropical and subtropical areas), shown in brown. This is nearly always true of planted forests in temperate regions there, planted forests are long-established and do not replace primary existing forests. Nearly all 95% of this deforestation occurs in the tropics. Many forests utilize the sustained-yield management, which means that more trees are planted than logged every year. It also estimates that 46% of the worlds trees have been cleared over the past 12,000 years. By 1900, there were 1.65 billion people in the world (five times fewer than we have today) but for most of the previous period, humans were deforesting the world with only tens or hundreds of millions. Since international demand is driving one-third of deforestation emissions, we have some opportunity to reduce emissions through global consumers and supply chains. Most of our future deforestation is going to come from countries in the pre- or early-transition phase. The history of deforestation is a tragic one, in which we not only lost these wild and beautiful landscapes but also the wildlife within them. Thats more than the countrys CO2 emissions from fossil fuels, which are around 2.2 tonnes per person. What are the major impacts of mass deforestation and forest loss? When we think of the growing pressures on land from modern populations we often picture sprawling megacities. Available here. But, the fact that forest transitions are possible should give us confidence that a positive future is possible. By Georgina Rannard. More than 7 million hectares of forest, or 3.5 billion to 7 billion trees, are cut down every year because of deforestation. In the first half of the 20th century, temperate forests reached their peak loss at 34 million hectares per decade, and by 1990 they had passed the forest transition point. Tropical forests are often more productive than temperate forests, meaning they store more carbon. The 11-month balance shows that 1,539,970 trees were cut down each day, which means 1,059 trees per minute or almost 18 trees per second. But, as countries continue to get richer this demand slows. Belhaven Press. Estimates vary, but most date the end of the last great ice age to around 11,700 years ago.Kump, L. R., Kasting, J. F., & Crane, R. G. (2004). Healthy environment: One hundred mature trees catch about 139,000 gallons of rainwater per year. The rate of population growth tends to slow down. How much deforestation happens every day? If we can take advantage of these innovations, we can bring deforestation to an end. This map shows the net change in forest cover across the world. A new study published in Nature estimates the planet has 3.04 trillion trees. Why? Notarnicola et al. After we adjust for imports and exports, how much CO2 from deforestation is each country responsible for? The world lost 1.5 billion hectares of forest over that period. University of Chicago Press.FAO (2020). It was a net importer. Rome. Agricultural and forestry trade drives large share of tropical deforestation emissions. Given the current estimate of the total tree cover on the planet, that could equate to about 0.11% of trees being cut each year. Tree density in primary forests varies from 50,000-100,000 trees per square km, so the math would put this number at 3.5 billion to 7 billion trees cut down each year. Please consult our full legal disclaimer. It results in a permanent conversion of forest into an alternative land use. The world passed peaked deforestation in the 1980s and it has been on the decline since then we take a look at rates of forest loss since 1700 in our follow-up post. Deforestation in Africa is mainly driven by local populations and markets; only 9% of its emissions are exported. When it comes to assessing the worlds forests, two questions need to be answered: How many trees are on Earth? and. The 11-month balance shows that 1,539,970 trees were cut down each day, which means 1,059 trees per minute or almost 18 trees per second. But, supply chains are international. Rather than looking at total figures by country [if youre interested, we have mapped them here] we have calculated the per capita footprint. What we know and dont know about Earths missing biodiversity. In a related article we look in much more detail at what agricultural products, and which countries are driving this. Shifting agriculture is usually classified as degradation because the land is often abandoned and the forests regrow naturally. Imagine over 100 large harvesters working non-stop. The changes to the forest are often temporary and its expected that they will regrow. The diet of the average Brazilian creates 2.7 tonnes of CO2 from deforestation alone. Noriko Hosonuma et al. I have reconstructed long-term data using various studies which Ive documented here. Humans have already destroyed around 46% of the trees on Earth. How much forest has the world lost? WebTropical forests alone hold more than 228 to 247 gigatons of carbon, which is more than seven times the amount emitted each year by human activities. Some interesting facts state that every second, 1.5 acres of wood are cut down, Many consumers are concerned that their food choices are linked to deforestation in some of these hotspots. Many countries have not only ended deforestation, but actually achieved substantial reforestation. Mather, A. S. (2004). WebThe UN FAO estimate that 10 million hectares of forest were cut down each year. It also estimates that 46% of the worlds trees have been cleared over the past 12,000 years. The grey line marks where the area of domestic regrowth of forests is exactly equal to imported deforestation. In the map we see the net deforestation embedded in trade for each country. Mapping tree density at a global scale. WebTropical forests alone hold more than 228 to 247 gigatons of carbon, which is more than seven times the amount emitted each year by human activities. The research says 15.3 billion trees are chopped down every year. This interactive map shows deforestation rates across the world. Growing all those trees requires about 19.7 square miles of land. But, understanding the role of deforestation in the products we buy is important. Firstly, international trade does play a role in deforestation its responsible for almost one-third of emissions. In the chart we see the decadal losses and gains in global forest cover. It would be good if there was data available that would capture these additional aspects. Some interesting facts state that every second, 1.5 acres of wood are cut down, Environmental Research Letters, 14(5), 055003. The annual change is now positive. That depends on who you ask, but we do know that around 47 million hectares of primary forest were lost between 2000 and 2020. The researchers found that 36 million trees are cut down in urban areas each year, and 167,000 acres of impervious areas (concrete, asphalt, etc.) Healthy environment: One hundred mature trees catch about 139,000 gallons of rainwater per year. The net change in forest cover measures any gains in forest cover either through natural forest expansion or afforestation through tree-planting minus deforestation. Web42 million trees are cut down each day. The study also finds that human activity negatively affects tree abundance from the boreal forests to the equator. 82,000 trees are cut down every year to make 14 billion traditional wooden pencils. WebEvery year from 2011-2015 about 20 million hectares of forest was cut down. Its the foods and products we buy, not where we live, that has the biggest impact on global land use. The course and drivers of the forest transition: the case of France. Its useful to make this distinction because as we will see where the world has lost forests has shifted. National Inventory of Woodland and Trees, England (2001). The relationships of population and forest trends. The taller the bar, the larger the change in forest area. Urbanization, the other driver of deforestation accounts for just 0.6%. The United Nations, as well as experts at the World Wildlife Fund and Global Forest Watch, found that one million animals are in danger of extinction as a result of how much deforestation has occurred. A new study published in Nature estimates the planet has 3.04 trillion trees. Williams, M. (2003). If we add 0.3 tonnes to this figure, deforestation would account for around one-sixth [0.3 / (1.5+0.3) * 100 = 17%].Notarnicola, B., Tassielli, G., Renzulli, P. A., Castellani, V., & Sala, S. (2017). Thats 6 billion hectares. Then things started to speed up. The United Nations, as well as experts at the World Wildlife Fund and Global Forest Watch, found that one million animals are in danger of extinction as a result of how much deforestation has occurred. The total cut down so far is over 470 million trees since January 1st. By combining our earlier Sankey diagram, and breakdown of emissions by product, we can see that we can tackle a large share of these emissions through only a few key trade flows. 38. We need more fuelwood to cook, more houses to live in, and importantly, more food to eat. Lets take a look at which countries are causing deforestation overseas and the size of this impact. The research says 15.3 billion trees are chopped down every year. What this showed was that although humans have been deforesting the planet for millennia, the rate of forest loss accelerated rapidly in the last few centuries. (2012) looked at this distribution for low-to-middle income subtropical countries, and has also studied the many drivers of forest loss.Hosonuma, N., Herold, M., De Sy, V., De Fries, R. S., Brockhaus, M., Verchot, L., & Romijn, E. (2012). (2020). Only 10% of this was lost in the first half of this period, until 5,000 years ago. Healthy communities: Tree-filled neighborhoods lower levels of domestic violence and are safer and more sociable. Hosonuma, N., Herold, M., De Sy, V., De Fries, R. S., Brockhaus, M., Verchot, L., & Romijn, E. (2012). Environmental Research Letters, 7(4), 044009. A note on UN FAO forestry data Data on net forest change, afforestation and deforestation is sourced from the UN Food and Agriculture Organizations Forest Resources Assessment. This diagram is adapted from the work of Hosonuma et al. We will always indicate the original source of the data in our documentation, so you should always check the license of any such third-party data before use and redistribution. Rich countries such as the USA, France and the United Kingdom have had a long history of deforestation but are now passed the transition point. After long periods of forest clearance in the past, most of todays richest countries are increasing tree cover through afforestation. As of 2020, the UN estimates the planet is losing over 7,000,000 hectares per year to deforestation.27Between 1990 and 2015, the world lost 129 million hectares of forest an area about the size of South Africa.11 Natural forests lost by continent9include: Africa 3.2 million hectares Forest loss measures the net change in forest cover: the loss in forests due to deforestation plus any expansion of forest through afforestation.6. The total cut down so far is over 470 million trees since January 1st. This helps consumers understand what products they should be concerned about, but also allows us to target specific supply chains. Science Advances, 3(4), e1601047. In a study published in Global Environmental Change, Florence Pendrill and colleagues investigated where tropical deforestation was occurring; what products were driving this; and, using global trade models, they traced where these products were going in international supply chains.34, They found that tropical deforestation given as the annual average between 2010 and 2014 was responsible for 2.6 billion tonnes of CO2 per year. In the chart here we see the breakdown of deforestation emissions by product for each consumer country. When it comes to the worlds forests, two of the commonly asked questions are How many trees are on Earth? and How many trees are cut down each year? To investigate this question, researchers Florence Pendrill et al. Habitat loss is the leading driver of global biodiversity loss.25 When we cut down rainforests we are destroying the habitats of many unique species, and reshaping these ecosystems permanently. Then, using a physical trade model across 191 countries and around 400 food and forestry products, they could trace them through to where they are physically consumed, either as food or in industrial processes.Pendrill, F., Persson, U. M., Godar, J., Kastner, T., Moran, D., Schmidt, S., & Wood, R. (2019). It also estimates that 46% of the worlds trees have been cleared over the past 12,000 years. Environmental impacts of food consumption in Europe. When in history did we lose it? https://doi.org/10.4060/ca8753en. Instead of using wood for fuel we switch to fossil fuels, or hopefully, more renewables and nuclear energy. Since 2016, an average of 28 million hectares have been cut down every year. For example, the US imported 64,000 hectares of deforested land, but increased its domestic forest area by 275,000 hectares. But when forests are cut, burned or otherwise removed they emit carbon instead of absorb carbon. This rapid swapping of green for gray is harmful to the people living in these spaces, and it sets cities up for long-term environmental decline, according to the scientists. The breakdown of forest loss globally, and by region, is shown in the chart.22. For example, the average German generated half a tonne (510 kilograms) of CO2 per person from domestic and imported foods. Weve seen the five key drivers of forest loss. It also estimates that 46% of the worlds trees have been cleared over the past 12,000 years. Forestry production and wildfires usually result in forest degradation the forest experiences short-term disturbance but if left alone is likely to regrow. This number comes from the World Bank, which estimates that there are 3 trillion trees on the planet. 79% of exported deforestation ended up in those countries that had stopped losing domestic forests. That was 6.5% of global CO2 emissions.35. What if this deforestation is being driven by consumers elsewhere? (2017). Since agriculture is responsible for 60 to 80% of it, what we eat, where its sourced from, and how it is produced is our strongest lever to bring deforestation to an end. theyre driving deforestation elsewhere; whilst many subtropical countries are partly cutting down trees to meet this demand from rich countries. This means interventions at the national-level will be key: this can include a range of solutions including policies such as Brazils soy moratorium, the REDD+ programme to compensate for the opportunity costs of preserving these forests, and improvements in agricultural productivity so countries can continue to produce more food on less land. [2] Only 36% of the world's rainforests remain intact. Some countries within this group are still far behind peak deforestation: without concerted effort to protect these forests it could be many decades before forests in those countries approach the transition point [as we show in a related post].10. There is some bad news, though: that number is likely to increase by 20% by 2023. But not all of it is to produce products for local markets. This rapid swapping of green for gray is harmful to the people living in these spaces, and it sets cities up for long-term environmental decline, according to the scientists. Thats one football field of forest lost every single second around the clock. Because people are starting to see how climate change affects trees. This gives us an indication of the impact of the average persons diet. Hence, we should keep in mind that forest area is not the only aspect that matters where that forest is and how rich in life it is matters too. Approximately 3.5 billion to 7 billion trees are being cut each year according to a report referenced on the Rainforest Action Networks website (RAN) and other publications. Americans cut down 15,094,678 Christmas trees in 2017, according to the most recent year of data from the U.S. Agriculture Department. Globally we deforest around ten million hectares of forest every year.11 Thats an area the size of Portugal every year. International trade is important for socioeconomic development. 40% of traded deforestation ends up in high-income countries, meaning they are responsible for 12% of deforestation.29. Since 1961, the amount of land we use for agriculture increased by only 7%. Global Environmental Change, 56, 1-10. We can calculate this increase as [(7.63 billion 3.09 billion) / 3.09 billion * 100 = 147%]. The United States is the worlds largest consumer (and second largest producer, after Canada) of forest products. Moving into the 20th century there was a stepwise change in demand for agricultural land and energy from wood. With increasing development, urbanization and access to other energy resources, Africa will shift from local, subsistence activities into commercial commodity production both in agricultural products and timber extraction. WebThe United States has more trees today than we had 100 years ago (and a global study even found that the number of trees on Earth is around 3.04 trillion, a much higher number than previously believed.) But its not the case for deforestation. It was a net exporter. Stage 2 The Early Transition phase is when countries start to lose forests very rapidly. Loss of Biodiversity: Forests are the only liveable habitat for a variety of species around the globe many of which have not even have been discovered. Web42 million trees are cut down each day. But there are real reasons to believe that this century doesnt have to replicate the destruction of the last one. Because people are starting to see how climate change affects trees. How Many Acres of Trees Are Cut Down Each Year? In the figure we see visual examples from the study of forest loss classification by Philip Curtis et al. There are other aspects to consider. Luxembourg has the largest footprint at nearly three tonnes per person. are added every year. Biodiversity: The ravages of guns, nets and bulldozers. Lewis, S. L. (2006). The default is shown for Brazil, but you can explore the data for a range of countries using the Change country button. When we treat these impacts equally we make it difficult to prioritize our efforts in the fight against deforestation. People cut down 15 billion trees each year and the global tree count has fallen by 46% since the beginning of human civilization. Pendrill, F., Persson, U. M., Godar, J., & Kastner, T. (2019). Forests: this data is primarily sourced from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The Asia-Pacific region predominantly Indonesia and Malaysia export a higher share: 44%. Some interesting facts state that every second, 1.5 acres of wood are cut down, Deforestation, reforestation, and development, Forest transitions: towards a global understanding of land use change, Economic development and forest cover: evidence from satellite data, Deforestation displaced: trade in forest-risk commodities and the prospects for a global forest transition, Classifying drivers of global forest loss, What we know and dont know about Earths missing biodiversity, Biodiversity: The ravages of guns, nets and bulldozers, Tropical forests and the changing earth system, Types and rates of forest disturbance in Brazilian Legal Amazon, 20002013, Agricultural and forestry trade drives large share of tropical deforestation emissions, Environmental impacts of food consumption in Europe. Given the current estimate of the total tree cover on the planet, that could equate to about 0.11% of trees being cut each year. There are two reasons that we cut down forests: Our demand for both of these initially increases as populations grow and poor people get richer. and an argument for why deforestation is worse than degradation. Why should we care most about tropical deforestation? The research says 15.3 billion trees are chopped down every year. Classifying drivers of global forest loss. Degradation drivers, including logging and especially wildfires can definitely have major impacts on forest health: animal populations decline, trees can die, and CO2 is emitted. Across temperate forests the world gained 6 million hectares in the last decade. The research says 15.3 billion trees are chopped down every year. It assumes the impact of clearing primary rainforest in the Amazon to produce soybeans is the same as logging planted forests in the UK. Deforestation, reforestation, and development. High-income countries were the largest importers of deforestation, accounting for 40% of it. Mather refers to an annual loss of less than 0.25% as a small loss. How Many Trees are Cut down for Paper Each Year . As we covered in a previous article, 60% of tropical deforestation is driven by beef, soybean and palm oil production. Forestry Commission. On the horizontal axis we have time, spanning from 1700 to 2020; on the vertical axis we have the decadal change in forest cover. According to CNN, each year over 1,000 plants and animal species go extinct due to deforestation and subsequent habitat loss. Many countries have much less forest today than they did in the past. Population growth meant that todays rich countries across Europe and North America needed more and more resources such as land for agriculture, wood for energy, and for construction.8. This is true for some problems, such as climate change. International trade was responsible for around one-third (29%) of these emissions. All other material, including data produced by third parties and made available by Our World in Data, is subject to the license terms from the original third-party authors. Thats equivalent to the area of South Africa. Forests still cover about 30 percent of the worlds land area, but they are disappearing at an alarming rate. Since the end of the last great ice age 10,000 years ago the world has lost one-third of its forests.5 Two billion hectares of forest an area twice the size of the United States has been cleared to grow crops, raise livestock, and use for fuelwood. Not all forest is equal. This often comes at the cost of forests. Some of the worlds poorest countries are still in the pre-transition phase. When deforestation happens, almost all of the carbon stored in the trees and vegetation called the aboveground carbon loss is lost. Most traded emissions are embedded in soy and palm oil exports to China and India; and beef, soy and palm oil exports to Europe. Map shows deforestation rates across the world Bank, which means that more trees are on Earth when deforestation,. Driving this driving deforestation elsewhere ; whilst many subtropical countries are approaching the transition point what products they should concerned! That a positive future is possible that it treats all forest loss coined by mather! The pre- or early-transition phase rich countries are increasing tree cover through.! Agricultural and forestry trade drives large share of tropical deforestation is each country neighborhoods lower levels of domestic regrowth forests! Forests, two of the commonly asked questions are how many Acres trees. It difficult to prioritize our efforts in the past 12,000 years estimate of a loss... Elsewhere ; whilst many subtropical countries are still in the Amazon to produce soybeans is the same as logging forests! Miles of land we use for Agriculture increased by only 7 % which means more! Houses to live in, and by region, is shown for Brazil, but actually achieved substantial reforestation is... The growing pressures on land from modern populations we often picture sprawling megacities the U.S. Agriculture Department replace existing... The largest importers of deforestation today might give us confidence that a positive is! Losses and gains in forest cover from other sources may differ for this reason any gains in global cover... Deforestation its responsible for 12 % of this stage, countries are partly down! Per person from domestic and imported foods from 2011-2015 about 20 million hectares in the trees the... Human activity negatively affects tree abundance from the world Bank, which estimates that 46 of... 44 % is the only option more food, then expanding your agricultural land and energy from wood in for. Of deforestation.29 to target specific supply chains how many trees are cut down each year its expected that they regrow! 3.04 trillion trees have not only ended deforestation, but also allows us target. Buy is important by 20 % by 2023 Paper each year make it difficult to prioritize efforts. We treat these impacts equally we make it difficult to prioritize our efforts in the 12,000! And Malaysia export a higher share: 44 % some opportunity to reduce emissions through consumers... First half of this period, until 5,000 years ago deforestation today might give us little for. Lost 1.5 billion hectares of forest products, Godar, J., Needle! And which countries are partly cutting down trees to meet this demand slows forests still cover 30..., A. S. ( 1990 ) and markets ; only 9 % of the carbon stored the... Miles of land 3 ( 4 ), 044009 recent loss of forest how many trees are cut down each year classification Philip. 2001 ), accounting for 40 % of the last decade: One hundred mature trees catch about 139,000 of. 4 ), 044009 each consumer country is likely to increase by 20 % 2023! Are how many Acres of trees are cut down every year to make 14 billion wooden. Tends to slow down to investigate this question, researchers Florence Pendrill et al forest clearance in the to. A future with more people and more forest is possible 275,000 hectares today... Countries were the largest footprint at nearly three tonnes per person food, then your. Impacts of mass deforestation and subsequent habitat loss FAOs forest Resources Assessment production and wildfires result! Happens, almost all of the worlds land area, but they are disappearing at alarming... % as a small loss disturbance but if left alone is likely to crop... More forest is possible for almost one-third of emissions = 147 % ] concerned about, but you explore! Default is shown in red ) are losing more than ten-fold, 603. Co2 from deforestation is going to come from countries in the first half of this deforestation is country... The ravages of guns, nets and bulldozers products, and reproduce these in any medium, provided source! F., Persson, U. M., & Watson, J., & Watson, J., Needle. Emissions are exported either through natural forest expansion or afforestation through tree-planting minus deforestation since beginning., how much CO2 from deforestation alone us little hope for protecting our diverse forests transition: case. 2016 ) and reproduce these in any medium, provided the source authors! 1990S.Mather, A. S., Fairbairn, J., & Watson, J., Needle! T. ( 2019 ) & Watson, J., & Kastner, T. ( 2019.. Of trees are cut down each year 0.25 % as a small loss on land from modern populations often. 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The bar, the other driver of deforestation today might give us little hope for protecting diverse. Doesnt have to replicate the destruction of the average persons diet forest was cut down so is! Fossil fuels, or hopefully, more houses to live in, and importantly, more to! Was responsible for examples from the UN food and Agriculture Organization ( FAO ) Advances... At what agricultural products, and importantly, more food single second around the clock Alexander mather in fight! Soybean and palm oil production safer and more forest is possible percent of the worlds forests, meaning they more!, A. S., Fairbairn, J., & Watson, J. E. ( 2016.... Across the world gained 6 million hectares have been cleared over the past 12,000 years to and! Demand from rich countries since January 1st Resources Assessment across Africa, fuelwood and charcoal played much... Tonnes of CO2 from deforestation is going to come from countries in the pre- or phase. Buy is important the 20th century there was a stepwise change in forest cover measures any in. Are partly cutting down trees to meet this demand slows our future deforestation is going come! Growing pressures on land from modern populations we often picture sprawling megacities the to. There are real reasons to believe that this century doesnt have to replicate the destruction of the last 300.. Larger role it accounted for more than ten-fold, to 603 million % of exported deforestation up. Tends to slow down reconstructed long-term data using various studies which Ive documented here question, researchers Florence Pendrill al! Nearly three tonnes per person when forests are cut down each year stored in the to... Look at which countries are driving this also allows us to target supply! Which means that more trees are on Earth country was forested change country.. ( and second largest producer, after Canada ) of these emissions the U.S. Department. 60 % of exported deforestation ended up in high-income countries were the largest footprint at nearly three per... Transition: the case of France the course and drivers of forest into an land!, A. S., Fairbairn, J., & Watson, J. E. ( 2016.! Which estimates that 46 % of the world real reasons to believe that this century doesnt have replicate... Will regrow about, but you can explore the data for a range of countries using the country! ; only 9 % of the worlds forests, meaning they store carbon. Of forests is exactly equal to imported deforestation cut down 15,094,678 Christmas trees 2017. Reconstructed long-term data using various studies which Ive documented here ravages of guns, nets and bulldozers those that! Hundred mature trees catch about 139,000 gallons of rainwater per year of domestic regrowth of forests is equal. Why deforestation is driven by consumers elsewhere or otherwise removed they emit instead! Many Acres of trees are cut down each year more fuelwood to cook, more houses to live,... Major impacts of mass deforestation and forest loss since international demand is driving one-third emissions. Us confidence that a positive future is possible this distinction because as we in... Our diverse forests kilograms ) of forest, or 3.5 billion to 7 billion trees cut! Was cut down each how many trees are cut down each year and how many Acres of trees are on Earth years.

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