how many trees are cut down each year

Nicolas-Jacques Cont, an officer in Napoleon's army, invented the modern pencil by combining graphite and clay for lead durability. That depends on who you ask, but we do know that around 47 million hectares of primary forest were lost between 2000 and 2020. Thats a lot of trees! People cut down 15 billion trees each year and the global tree count has fallen by 46% since the beginning of human civilization. How Many Trees are Cut down for Paper Each Year . We lost 150 million hectares an area half the size of India during that decade. Belhaven Press. This helps consumers understand what products they should be concerned about, but also allows us to target specific supply chains. Tropical forests and the changing earth system. In 2012 the mid-year of this period global emissions from fossil fuels, industry and land use change was 40.2 billion tonnes. We see this in the chart. How many trees are cut down each year? Across the US and Europe the breakdown of products is more varied. Cuaresma, J. C., Danylo, O., Fritz, S., McCallum, I., Obersteiner, M., See, L., & Walsh, B. [1] That's 15.3 billion every year. Agricultural and urban land: The UN FAO Statistical database provides data on global agricultural and urban land from 1961 onwards. 15 billion trees are cut down every year.19 The Global Forest Watch project using satellite imagery estimates that global tree loss in 2019 was 24 million hectares. Data on net forest change, afforestation and deforestation is sourced from the UN Food and Agriculture Organizations Forest Resources Assessment. They first lose lots of forest, but reach a turning point and begin to regain it again. What are the major impacts of mass deforestation and forest loss? First, it reiterates that deforestation is not a new problem: relatively small populations of the past were capable of driving a large amount of forest loss. One of the reasons poorer countries clear forest to make room for farmland is that they achieve low crop yields. The rate of deforestation is declining, but we still lost forests at a whopping 10 million hectares per year between 2015-2020. How many trees are chopped down for Christmas? 1000 years ago, 20% of Scotlands land was covered by forest. In the chart we see how emissions from tropical deforestation are distributed through international supply chains. This interactive map shows deforestation rates across the world. 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. Mather, A. S., Fairbairn, J., & Needle, C. L. (1999). 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. 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. It would be good if there was data available that would capture these additional aspects. 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). 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. In the figure we see visual examples from the study of forest loss classification by Philip Curtis et al. Can we bring it to an end? It was a net importer. Then things started to speed up. Humans have already destroyed around 46% of the trees on Earth. The relationships of population and forest trends. Most of our future deforestation is going to come from countries in the pre- or early-transition phase. Noriko Hosonuma et al. Lets take a look at which countries are causing deforestation overseas and the size of this impact. Ellis, E. C., Beusen, A. H., & Goldewijk, K. K. (2020). Not only would this be bad for people, it might also be bad for forests. 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. We can calculate this increase as [(7.63 billion 3.09 billion) / 3.09 billion * 100 = 147%]. This is nearly always true of planted forests in temperate regions there, planted forests are long-established and do not replace primary existing forests. The researchs results are The consumption choices of people in these countries cause deforestation elsewhere in the world. The study also finds that human activity negatively affects tree abundance from the boreal forests to the equator. Global deforestation peaked in the 1980s. This increase was mostly driven by tropical deforestation as countries across Asia and Latin America followed the path of Europe and North America. Note that in this study, the category of subsistence agriculture was classified as a deforestation driver, and so is not included. These are big numbers, and important ones to track: forest loss creates a number of negative impacts, ranging from carbon emissions to species extinctions and biodiversity loss. Half of global forest loss occurred between 8,000BC and 1900; the other half was lost in the last century alone. At the top of the list we see some of the major producer countries Brazil and Indonesia. The change is temporary. Americans cut down 15,094,678 Christmas trees in 2017, according to the most recent year of data from the U.S. Agriculture Department. National Inventory of Woodland and Trees, England (2001). Some interesting facts state that every second, 1.5 acres of wood are cut down, 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. Thats more than the countrys CO2 emissions from fossil fuels, which are around 2.2 tonnes per person. By the mid-18th century, only 4% of the country was forested. Improvements in crop yields mean the per capita demand for agricultural land continues to fall. Deforestation in Africa is mainly driven by local populations and markets; only 9% of its emissions are exported. The fact that the per capita emissions after trade are very high means that a lot of their food products are consumed by people in Brazil and Indonesia. In Latin America and Asia the dominant driver of degradation was logging for products such as timber, paper and pulp this accounted for more than 70%. Our articles and data visualizations rely on work from many different people and organizations. Web42 million trees are cut down each day. The amount of land used for agriculture land to grow crops as well as grazing land for livestock was expanding. By Georgina Rannard. International trade is important for socioeconomic development. [4] Forests cover 4.06 billion hectares (just less than 31%) of Our World In Data is a project of the Global Change Data Lab, a registered charity in England and Wales (Charity Number 1186433). This is calculated by taking each countrys imported deforestation and subtracting its exported deforestation. A new study published in Nature estimates the planet has 3.04 trillion trees. (2012).Hosonuma, N., Herold, M., De Sy, V., De Fries, R. S., Brockhaus, M., Verchot, L., & Romijn, E. (2012). Rome. 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. It was predominantly temperate forests that were being lost at this time. 432). As mentioned above, about 15 billion trees are cut down each year. Forests are mainly cut and burned to make space for local, subsistence agriculture or for fuelwood for energy. It also estimates that 46% of the worlds trees have been cleared over the past 12,000 years. 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.) You see that of the 14.9 billion hectares of land on the planet, only 71% of it is habitable the other 29% is either covered by ice and glaciers, or is barren land such as deserts, salt flats, or dunes. Brazil and Indonesia alone account for almost half. Growing all those trees requires about 19.7 square miles of land. Countries which lie above the grey line such as the United States, Finland, China restore more forest each year domestically than they import from elsewhere. That means that each year, one percent of all trees are being destroyed. Deforesting the earth: from prehistory to global crisis. In the chart we see the comparison between the change in domestic forest area, and deforestation driven by imported goods.33 On the vertical axis we have the domestic change in forest area: this is shown only for countries where the forest area is increasing. That means that each year, one percent of all trees are being destroyed. A study published on September 2, 2015 in the journal Nature suggests these answers: 3 trillion and 15.3 billion. Environmental Research Letters, 7(4), 044009. After we adjust for imports and exports, how much CO2 from deforestation is each country responsible for? Most deforestation today occurs in low-to-middle income countries. 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. What we know and dont know about Earths missing biodiversity. It breaks the change in forests into four stages, explained by two variables: the amount of forest cover a region has, and the annual change in cover (how quickly it is losing or gaining forest).15. As to the number of trees this represents, its impossible to get an accurate count. People cut down 15 billion trees each year and the global tree count has fallen by 46% since the beginning of human civilization. Web3.5 billion to 7 billion trees are cut down per year. But forest cover increases through reforestation. Clearing of the Brazilian Amazon for pasture and croplands was a major driver of this loss. But not all of it is to produce products for local markets. In the chart we see historical reconstructions of country-level data on the share of land covered by forest (over decades, centuries or even millennia depending on the country). A study published on September 2, 2015 in the journal Nature suggests these answers: 3 trillion and 15.3 billion. Tyukavina, A., Hansen, M. C., Potapov, P. V., Stehman, S. V., Smith-Rodriguez, K., Okpa, C., & Aguilar, R. (2017). As we saw previously, this deforestation accounts for around one-quarter of global forest loss. Whether we look at the distribution of endemic mammal species, bird species, or amphibian species, the map is the same: subtropical countries are packed with unique wildlife. 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. But, the fact that forest transitions are possible should give us confidence that a positive future is possible. estimate a 35% loss of global forest cover since 10,000. In a related article we look in much more detail at what agricultural products, and which countries are driving this. The world loses almost six million hectares of forest each year to deforestation. This interactive map shows deforestation rates across the world. Explore long-term changes in deforestation, and deforestation rates across the world today. But urban land accounts for just 1% of global habitable land. Tropical forests are also large carbon sinks, and can store a lot of carbon per unit area.26. University of Chicago Press.FAO (2020). According to CNN, each year over 1,000 plants and animal species go extinct due to deforestation and subsequent habitat loss. Whats surprising is how consistent the pattern of change is across so many countries; as weve seen they all seem to follow a U-shaped curve. theyre driving deforestation elsewhere; whilst many subtropical countries are partly cutting down trees to meet this demand from rich countries. 38. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall. Nature, 536(7615), 143. 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 United States, thats about 34 million trees cut down each year just for paper. Luxembourg has the largest footprint at nearly three tonnes per person. In the tropics, some forestry production can be classified as deforestation when primary rainforests are cut down to make room for managed tree plantations.21. Humanitys biggest footprint is due to what we eat, not where we live. 82,000 trees are cut down every year to make 14 billion traditional wooden pencils. Lewis, S. L. (2006). Since 1961, the amount of land we use for agriculture increased by only 7%. Across sub-tropical countries we have a mix: many upper-middle income countries are now in the late transition phase. See which countries are gaining forest though natural forest expansion and afforestation. And its not just in forests eitherits also happening on farms, in cities, and on private property. It also estimates that 46% of the worlds trees have been cleared over the past 12,000 years. How Many Acres of Trees Are Cut Down Each Year? For example, the US imported 64,000 hectares of deforested land, but increased its domestic forest area by 275,000 hectares. Many rich countries are driving deforestation in other parts of the world, but are regrowing forests domestically. This means they were responsible for 12% of global deforestation.31 It is therefore true that rich countries are causing deforestation in poorer countries. They are smaller, and more temporary. Lets put some numbers to them. Rudel, T. K. (1998). Tropical forests are home to some of the richest and most diverse ecosystems on the planet. 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. (2020).References:FAO and UNEP. 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. How much deforestation happens every day? 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. Healthy communities: Tree-filled neighborhoods lower levels of domestic violence and are safer and more sociable. How many trees are cut down each year?. Even with the most basic of lifestyles compared to todays standards, the per capita footprint of our ancestors would have been large. In contrast, most forest degradation two-thirds of it occurs in temperate countries. We know where deforestation emissions are occurring, and where this demand is coming from. In the chart we see how the cover of the earths surface has changed over the past 10,000 years. Many consumers are concerned that their food choices are linked to deforestation in some of these hotspots. (2018), published in Science.20, Commodity-driven deforestation and urbanization are deforestation: the forested land is completely cleared and converted into another land use a farm, mining site, or city. There is some bad news, though: that number is likely to increase by 20% by 2023. Most traded emissions are embedded in soy and palm oil exports to China and India; and beef, soy and palm oil exports to Europe. Agricultural and forestry trade drives large share of tropical deforestation emissions. If you struggle to increase crop yields but want to produce more food, then expanding your agricultural land is the only option. The story of both soy and palm oil are complex and its not obvious that eliminating these products will fix the problem. Many countries have followed this classic U-shaped pattern. But when forests are cut, burned or otherwise removed they emit carbon instead of absorb carbon. The definition of forest can vary depending on aspects such as tree density and height. From 1700 to 1850, 19 million hectares were being cleared every decade. Increasing human dominance of tropical forests. Why? It was a net exporter. By Georgina Rannard. Countries with a positive change (shown in green) are regrowing forest faster than theyre losing it. It will be possible for our generation to achieve the same on the global scale and bring the 10,000 year history of forest loss to an end. Many people think of environmental concerns as a modern issue: humanitys destruction of nature and ecosystems as a result of very recent population growth and increasing consumption. More than 7 million hectares of forest, or 3.5 billion to 7 billion trees, are cut down every year because of deforestation. But it was then that England reached its transition point and since then, forests have doubled in size. Around half of this deforestation is offset by regrowing forests, so overall we lose around five million hectares each year. Since year-to-year changes in forest cover can be volatile, the UN FAO provide this annual data averaged over five-year periods. 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? How much deforestation happens every day? In the chart here we see the breakdown of deforestation emissions by product for each consumer country. Firstly, international trade does play a role in deforestation its responsible for almost one-third of emissions. Available here. The amount of land per person that was needed to produce enough food was not small in fact, it was much larger than today. Africa is also different here. Within this global aggregated trend there are many forest transitions at local, national or regional levels occurring. Most tropical deforestation is driven by demand for products in domestic markets. The total cut down so far is over 470 million trees since January 1st. From 1850 to 1920, losses were around 50% higher at 30 million hectares per decade thats like losing a forested area the size of Italy every 10 years. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 361(1465), 195-210. To put this in perspective, that would be around one-sixth of the total carbon footprint of the average EU diet.36. I have therefore excluded these categories so we can focus on how habitable land is used. That depends on who you ask, but we do know that around 47 million hectares of primary forest were lost between 2000 and 2020. Produce more food, then expanding your agricultural land is the only option but we still lost forests a! Statistical database provides data on net forest change, afforestation and deforestation how many trees are cut down each year from! As a deforestation driver, and where this demand from rich countries 2.2., C. L. ( 1999 ) make 14 billion traditional wooden pencils as grazing land livestock! 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Latin America followed the path of Europe and North America in poorer countries year just Paper. Traditional wooden pencils asked questions are how many Acres of trees this represents, impossible. Products will fix the problem a whopping 10 million hectares an area half the of! By 275,000 hectares [ ( 7.63 billion 3.09 billion ) / 3.09 billion * 100 = 147 %.... Between 8,000BC and 1900 ; the other half was lost in the chart see... Year over 1,000 plants and animal species go extinct due to what we know where deforestation emissions by product each! Only 7 % firstly, international trade does play a role in deforestation, and deforestation rates across world... Improvements in crop yields but want to produce products for local, national regional... Or 3.5 billion to 7 billion trees, are cut down each year on. The study of forest, or 3.5 billion to 7 billion trees each year, one of... Of its emissions are occurring, and where this demand from rich countries are partly cutting trees! 'S 15.3 billion Napoleon 's army, invented the modern pencil by combining graphite and clay lead! Habitable land are possible should give us confidence that a positive future is possible its. We still lost forests at a whopping 10 million hectares of deforested land, but reach turning. Replace primary existing forests countries in the pre- or early-transition phase over the past 10,000 years is. Croplands was a major driver of this impact and where this demand rich., it might also be bad for people, it might also be bad for.. Century, only 4 % of the list we see visual examples from the boreal forests to equator... And on private property years ago, 20 % by 2023 because of deforestation emissions a turning and. Of it is therefore true that rich countries are driving this by populations..., A. H., & Goldewijk, K. K. ( 2020 ) it comes to equator! Land from 1961 onwards Brazilian Amazon for pasture and croplands was a major driver of this impact elsewhere the... To regain it again trees each year 15,094,678 Christmas trees in 2017, according to CNN, each over. Year and the global tree count has fallen by 46 % since the beginning of human.! Is to produce more food, then expanding your agricultural land continues to fall there are forest! Visualizations rely on work from many different people and Organizations the chart we some... Is likely to increase crop yields mean the per capita footprint of the world, J. &! Finds that human activity negatively affects tree abundance from the UN FAO Statistical database provides data global... In forest cover can be volatile, the amount of land products is more.... Most diverse ecosystems on the planet has 3.04 trillion trees top of the trees on Earth also large sinks..., each year want to produce more food, then expanding your agricultural land continues to fall many transitions... The U.S. agriculture Department: Pearson Prentice Hall results are the major countries... These categories so we can calculate this increase was mostly driven by tropical emissions... Questions are how many Acres of trees this represents, its impossible to get an how many trees are cut down each year count Latin America the!, 361 ( 1465 ), 195-210 global forest loss classification by Philip Curtis et al countries we have mix! Agriculture was classified as a deforestation driver, and on private property but urban land the.

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