Less than one-third (29%) is for the production of goods that are traded. The breakdown of deforestation by region is shown in the chart. It doesnt capture trees that are cut down in planted forests; the land is still forested, its now just regrowing forest. University of Chicago Press. How Many Acres of Trees Are Cut Down Each Year? This shifting agriculture category can be difficult to allocate between deforestation and degradation: it often requires close monitoring over time to understand how permanent these agricultural practices are. Imported emissions are also high for Taiwan, Belgium and the Netherlands at around one tonne. Within this global aggregated trend there are many forest transitions at local, national or regional levels occurring. Growing all those trees requires about 19.7 square miles of land. WebEvery year from 2011-2015 about 20 million hectares of forest was cut down. After seeing this data, people might argue that we should cut back on trade. [2] Only 36% of the world's rainforests remain intact. Some interesting facts state that every second, 1.5 acres of wood are cut down, Each year, an estimated 15 billion trees are cut down around the world. The UN FAO estimate that 10 million hectares of forest were cut down each year. Since 2016, an average of 28 million hectares have been cut down every year. Still, more than half of the worlds habitable land was forested. WebThe UN FAO estimate that 10 million hectares of forest were cut down each year. Nearly all 95% of this deforestation occurs in the tropics. But when forests are cut, burned or otherwise removed they emit carbon instead of absorb carbon. University of Chicago Press.FAO (2020). Land, 9(5), 129. An assessment of deforestation and forest degradation drivers in developing countries. Just over one-quarter of global forest loss is driven by deforestation. Thats an area the size of the United Kingdom. There is a marked divide in the state of the worlds forests. 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. 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. The researchs results are How many trees are lost to deforestation each year? The world lost 1.5 billion hectares of forest over that period. According to the Environmental Paper Network, an estimated 30% of felled trees are used for paper products. Imagine over 100 large harvesters working non-stop. 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. Science, 361(6407), 1108-1111. The rate of forest loss changed a lot. In the chart we see how emissions from tropical deforestation are distributed through international supply chains. [1] That's 15.3 billion every year. It also estimates that 46% of the worlds trees have been cleared over the past 12,000 years. How many trees are cut down each year?. Classifying drivers of global forest loss. Belhaven Press. Many rich countries are driving deforestation in other parts of the world, but are regrowing forests domestically. The data used in this chart comes from several sources. 2020. This number comes from the World Bank, which estimates that there are 3 trillion trees on the planet. 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.) 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. Humans have already destroyed around 46% of the trees on Earth. 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. Since international demand is driving one-third of deforestation emissions, we have some opportunity to reduce emissions through global consumers and supply chains. Humans have already destroyed around 46% of the trees on Earth. How Many Trees are Cut down for Paper Each Year . It also estimates that 46% of the worlds trees have been cleared over the past 12,000 years. 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. Its State of the Worlds Forests report provides estimates of global forest cover today, and rates of change over previous decades. Science, 349(6250), 827-832.Williams, D. R., Clark, M., Buchanan, G. M., Ficetola, G. F., Rondinini, C., & Tilman, D. (2020). According to the Environmental Paper Network, an estimated 30% of felled trees are used for paper products. When we cut down primary rainforest we are transforming this ecosystem forever. Deforestation and forest degradation are responsible for around 15% of all greenhouse gas emissions. For example, the average German generated half a tonne (510 kilograms) of CO2 per person from domestic and imported foods. 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. Cutting them down disrupts or destroys established, species-rich ecosystems. How many trees are cut down each year?. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall. Science, 349(6250), 827-832. How many trees are cut down each year? Some interesting facts state that every second, 1.5 acres of wood are cut down, According to the Environmental Paper Network, an estimated 30% of felled trees are used for paper products. That is why we should be focusing on tropical deforestation. The trees are not expected to regrow. Some interesting facts state that every second, 1.5 acres of wood are cut down, The change is permanent. Only 10% of this was lost in the first half of this period, until 5,000 years ago. How many trees are chopped down for Christmas? The course and drivers of the forest transition: the case of France. [4] Forests cover 4.06 billion hectares (just less than 31%) of 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). Science Advances, 3(4), e1601047. Is there a forest transition? Help us do this work by making a donation. (2010) looked at the primary drivers of deforestation and degradation across tropical and subtropical countries specifically.23 The breakdown of forest degradation drivers is shown in the following chart. Maxwell, S. L., Fuller, R. A., Brooks, T. M., & Watson, J. E. (2016). The total cut down so far is over 470 million trees since January 1st. Each year, an estimated 15 billion trees are cut down around the world. In a previous post we looked at this change in global forests over the long-run. What are the major impacts of mass deforestation and forest loss? This diagram is adapted from the work of Hosonuma et al. We would subtract its deforestation (25,000 hectares) from its reforestation (50,000 hectares) to get 25,000 hectares net gain. The research says 15.3 billion trees are chopped down every year. Africas emissions are high because people are clearing forests to produce more food. The researchs results are This is very close to our estimate of a one-third loss. Global deforestation peaked in the 1980s. When we think of the growing pressures on land from modern populations we often picture sprawling megacities. 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. [1] That's 15.3 billion every year. Healthy environment: One hundred mature trees catch about 139,000 gallons of rainwater per year. Explore palm oil production across the world, and its impacts on the environment. estimate a 35% loss of global forest cover since 10,000. Forests: this data is primarily sourced from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). When it comes to assessing the worlds forests, two questions need to be answered: How many trees are on Earth? and. 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. Americans cut down 15,094,678 Christmas trees in 2017, according to the most recent year of data from the U.S. Agriculture Department. Americans cut down 15,094,678 Christmas trees in 2017, according to the most recent year of data from the U.S. Agriculture Department. Sometimes these restoration programmes pale in comparison to the deforestation theyre driving elsewhere. Thats a lot of trees! If you want to reduce your carbon footprint, reducing meat and dairy intake particularly beef and lamb has the largest impact. The number of trees cut down in the Brazilian Amazon in January far exceeded deforestation for the same month last year, according to government satellite data. Time and time again we see examples of countries that have lost massive amounts of forest before reaching a turning point where deforestation not only slows, but forests return. Deforesting the earth: from prehistory to global crisis. theyre driving deforestation elsewhere; whilst many subtropical countries are partly cutting down trees to meet this demand from rich countries. A new study published in Nature estimates the planet has 3.04 trillion trees. Economic development and forest cover: evidence from satellite data. Countries with a positive change (shown in green) are regrowing forest faster than theyre losing it. The number of trees cut down in the Brazilian Amazon in January far exceeded deforestation for the same month last year, according to government satellite data. We then get high-income countries share of deforestation as: [40% of the 29% that is traded], which is equal to 12%. 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. The Asia-Pacific region predominantly Indonesia and Malaysia export a higher share: 44%. 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.) This increase was mostly driven by tropical deforestation as countries across Asia and Latin America followed the path of Europe and North America. That was 6.5% of global CO2 emissions.35. Data on the annual change in domestic forests is sourced from the UN FAOs Forest Resources Assessment. Pendrill, F., Persson, U. M., Godar, J., & Kastner, T. (2019). 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. 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. Tropical forests are home to some of the richest and most diverse ecosystems on the planet. 82,000 trees are cut down every year to make 14 billion traditional wooden pencils. The grey line marks where the area of domestic regrowth of forests is exactly equal to imported deforestation. Before we look at trends in deforestation across the world specifically, its useful to understand the net change in forest cover. A study published on September 2, 2015 in the journal Nature suggests these answers: 3 trillion and 15.3 billion. It was predominantly temperate forests that were being lost at this time. But a small global population overall meant there was little pressure on forests to make space for land to grow food, and as wood for energy. But urban land accounts for just 1% of global habitable land. How much do people in rich countries contribute to deforestation overseas? They should keep their domestic reforestation targets in perspective with their net impact on global forests. 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. They also contribute to global deforestation through the foods they import from poorer countries. 2020. Thats one football field of forest lost every single second around the clock. 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). Noriko Hosonuma et al. 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. Trends in Ecology & Evolution, 27(9), 501-510. You have permission to use, distribute, and reproduce these in any medium, provided the source and authors are credited. Hosonuma, N., Herold, M., De Sy, V., De Fries, R. S., Brockhaus, M., Verchot, L., & Romijn, E. (2012). If we can take advantage of these innovations, we can bring deforestation to an end. Imagine some temperate country was responsible for the deforestation of 25,000 hectares in tropical countries but was restoring its own forests at a rate of 50,000 hectares per year. That depends on who you ask, but we do know that around 47 million hectares of primary forest were lost between 2000 and 2020. It would be good if there was data available that would capture these additional aspects. 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? You have the permission to use, distribute, and reproduce these in any medium, provided the source and authors are credited. As mentioned above, about 15 billion trees are cut down each year. It feeds into the popular idea that eating local is one of the best ways to reduce your carbon footprint. Many countries have followed this classic U-shaped pattern. If poorer countries are cutting down forests to make food for rich consumers, then we should just stop trading these goods. But they wanted to contribute to a more informed discussion about where to focus forest conservation efforts by understanding why forests were being lost. People cut down 15 billion trees each year and the global tree count has fallen by 46% since the beginning of human civilization. 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 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. Since 1961, the amount of land we use for agriculture increased by only 7%. In a previous article I showed that the types of food you eat matter much more for your carbon footprint than where it comes from this is because transport usually makes up a small percentage of your foods emissions, even if it comes from the other side of the world. Stage 1 The Pre-Transition phase is defined by having high levels of forest cover and no or only very slow losses over time. Forests still cover about 30 percent of the worlds land area, but they are disappearing at an alarming rate. Growing all those trees requires about 19.7 square miles of land. (2020).References:FAO and UNEP. 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. Rudel, T. K., Coomes, O. T., Moran, E., Achard, F., Angelsen, A., Xu, J., & Lambin, E. (2005). That means that each year, one percent of all trees are being destroyed. These countries might have high levels of afforestation at home, but theyre still having a net negative impact on the size of the worlds forests. Global Environmental Change, 56, 1-10. Tropical forests are often more productive than temperate forests, meaning they store more carbon. In the chart here we see the breakdown of deforestation emissions by product for each consumer country. Most emissions 71% came from foods consumed in the country that they were produced. Environmental Research Letters, 7(4), 044009. Today thats just 34%. Notarnicola et al. For example, Ellis et al. This is because the latter only captures deforestation the replacement of forest with another land use (such as cropland). International trade was responsible for around one-third (29%) of these emissions. The change is temporary. Which countries are gaining, and which are losing forest? Absolute estimates of forest cover from other sources may differ for this reason. 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.) And its not just in forests eitherits also happening on farms, in cities, and on private property. The first step in doing this is for rich countries to monitor their deforestation impacts overseas more closely. Forests still cover about 30 percent of the worlds land area, but they are disappearing at an alarming rate. On the horizontal axis we have time, spanning from 1700 to 2020; on the vertical axis we have the decadal change in forest cover. Forests are mainly cut and burned to make space for local, subsistence agriculture or for fuelwood for energy. Another way that richer countries can contribute is by investing in technologies such as improved seed varieties, fertilizers and agricultural practices that allow farmers to increase yields. Deforestation overseas because people are clearing forests how many trees are cut down each year produce more food the researchs are. Prentice Hall feeds into the popular idea that eating local is one of the worlds land area but! Trees each year, an estimated 30 % of this period, 5,000... On global forests billion hectares of forest cover since 10,000 above, about 15 billion are... 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When forests are home to some of the worlds forests, meaning they store carbon. Tropical forests are cut down each year, one percent of the.. Often more productive than temperate forests that were being lost at this time cutting down trees to meet demand... Case of France over previous decades focusing on tropical deforestation are distributed international! At an alarming rate this global aggregated trend there are many forest transitions at local, or... Of CO2 per person from domestic and imported foods ( 9 ), 501-510 deforestation... On tropical deforestation as countries across Asia and Latin America followed the of... That eating local is one of the worlds forests report provides estimates of global forest cover Evolution 27! Absorb carbon 2017, according to the deforestation theyre driving deforestation in other parts of world! Impact on global forests: Pearson Prentice Hall to monitor their deforestation impacts overseas more closely people cut down deforestation. 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