The bar chart just below shows the earths surface cover just after the end of the last ice age.3 10,000 years ago 57% of the worlds habitable land was covered by forest. Many farmers rely on international buyers to earn a living and improve their livelihoods. You have permission to use, distribute, and reproduce these in any medium, provided the source and authors are credited. It also estimates that 46% of the worlds trees have been cleared over the past 12,000 years. 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. 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. But it can bridge between deforestation and degradation depending on the timeframe and permanence of these agricultural practices. Meanwhile, the global population increased by 147% from 3.1 to 7.6 billion.4 This means that agricultural land per person more than halved, from 1.45 to 0.63 hectares. We then get high-income countries share of deforestation as: [40% of the 29% that is traded], which is equal to 12%. Healthy communities: Tree-filled neighborhoods lower levels of domestic violence and are safer and more sociable. Mather refers to an annual loss of less than 0.25% as a small loss. We can illustrate this through the so-called Forest Transition Model.14 This is shown in the chart. For the last two centuries forests have been growing and are almost back to where they were 1000 years ago.13. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Forest Resources Assessment estimates global deforestation, averaged over the five-year period from 2015 to 2020 was 10 million hectares per year. Thats an area the size of the United Kingdom. This is also true for major economies such as China and India. 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. We know where deforestation emissions are occurring, and where this demand is coming from. In the map we see their assessment of each countrys stage in the transition. 79% of exported deforestation ended up in those countries that had stopped losing domestic forests. The researchs results are How much do people in rich countries contribute to deforestation overseas? Lets start at the top. (2017). In the article we will look at the reasons we lose forest; how these can be differentiated in a useful way; and what this means for understanding our priorities in tackling forest loss. How many trees are cut down each year? The default is shown for Brazil, but you can explore the data for a range of countries using the Change country button. [2] Only 36% of the world's rainforests remain intact. Curtis, P. G., Slay, C. M., Harris, N. L., Tyukavina, A., & Hansen, M. C. (2018). Williams, M. (2003). Agricultural and forestry trade drives large share of tropical deforestation emissions. The problem is that it treats all forest loss as equal. But international markets alone cannot fix this problem. How much deforestation happens every day? We therefore look at them both individually in more detail, to better understand what we can do about it. Africas emissions are high because people are clearing forests to produce more food. In fact, the world may have already passed peak agricultural land [we will look at this in more detail in an upcoming post]. Some interesting facts state that every second, 1.5 acres of wood are cut down, Why? They are smaller, and more temporary. It feeds into the popular idea that eating local is one of the best ways to reduce your carbon footprint. 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? 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. Carbon emissions from deforestation: are they driven by domestic demand or international trade? Deforestation and forest degradation are responsible for around 15% of all greenhouse gas emissions. Because people are starting to see how climate change affects trees. Bringing all of these elements together, we can focus on a few points that should help us prioritise our efforts to end deforestation. That depends on who you ask, but we do know that around 47 million hectares of primary forest were lost between 2000 and 2020. Since 1961, the amount of land we use for agriculture increased by only 7%. 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. (2020).References:FAO and UNEP. The change is permanent. Available here. The 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. Economic development and forest cover: evidence from satellite data. After seeing this data, people might argue that we should cut back on trade. Some interesting facts state that every second, 1.5 acres of wood are cut down, But it was then that England reached its transition point and since then, forests have doubled in size. 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. What are the major impacts of mass deforestation and forest loss? 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. The United States is the worlds largest consumer (and second largest producer, after Canada) of forest products. Deforestation and forest degradation are responsible for around 15% of all greenhouse gas emissions. Note that this only measures the emissions from tropical deforestation it doesnt include any other emissions from agricultural production, such as methane from livestock, or rice, or the use of fertilizers. The taller the bar, the larger the change in forest area. Tropical forests and the changing earth system. We need to pass the transition point as soon as possible, while minimising the amount of forest we lose along the way. More than 7 million hectares of forest, or 3.5 billion to 7 billion trees, are cut down every year because of deforestation. (2019) quantified the deforestation embedded in traded goods between countries.30 They did this by calculating the amount of deforestation associated with specific food and forestry products, and combining it with a trade model. [2] Only 36% of the world's rainforests remain intact. Web42 million trees are cut down each day. Growing all those trees requires about 19.7 square miles of land. 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. Are they causing more deforestation elsewhere than they are regenerating in forests at home? The Forest Transition therefore tends to follow a development pathway.16 As a country achieves economic growth it moves through each of the four stages. What if this deforestation is being driven by consumers elsewhere? Each year, an estimated 15 billion trees are cut down around the world. The rate of forest loss changed a lot. The researchs results are But the magnitude of these impacts are often less than the complete conversion of forest. What activities are driving this? But, the fact that forest transitions are possible should give us confidence that a positive future is possible. Forests still cover about 30 percent of the worlds land area, but they are disappearing at an alarming rate. Deforestation and forest degradation are responsible for around 15% of all greenhouse gas emissions. But distilling changes to this single metric tree or forest loss comes with its own issues. 2020. As we explore in more detail in our related article, countries tend to follow a predictable development in forest cover, a U-shaped curve.9 They lose forests as populations grow and demand for agricultural land and fuel increases, but eventually they reach the so-called forest transition point where they begin to regrow more forests than they lose. An assessment of deforestation and forest degradation drivers in developing countries. 95% of this occurs in the tropics. A new study published in Nature estimates the planet has 3.04 trillion trees. Notarnicola 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. They also contribute to global deforestation through the foods they import from poorer countries. 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. High-income countries were the largest importers of deforestation, accounting for 40% of it. Forest loss or tree loss captures two fundamental impacts on forest cover: deforestation and forest degradation. are added every year. Biodiversity: The ravages of guns, nets and bulldozers. I have therefore excluded these categories so we can focus on how habitable land is used. 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. 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. How many trees are chopped down for Christmas? 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. According to CNN, each year over 1,000 plants and animal species go extinct due to deforestation and subsequent habitat loss. Explore global data on soy production, how its used, and how much deforestation is caused by its expansion. 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. It provides long-term estimates on forest cover in 10,000 and 5,000 years BP. 40% of traded deforestation ends up in high-income countries, meaning they are responsible for 12% of deforestation.29. What are the major impacts of mass deforestation and forest loss? 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. Global Forest Resources Assessment 2020: Main report. Hosonuma, N., Herold, M., De Sy, V., De Fries, R. S., Brockhaus, M., Verchot, L., & Romijn, E. (2012). Science, 361(6407), 1108-1111. How many trees are cut down each year?. It also estimates that 46% of the worlds trees have been cleared over the past 12,000 years. As mentioned above, about 15 billion trees are cut down each year. Although there is some year-to-year variability [you can explore the data use the timeline on the bottom of the chart from 2005 to 2013] we see a reasonably consistent divide: most countries across Europe and North America are net importers of deforestation i.e. In the United States, thats about 34 million trees cut down each year just for paper. WebThe UN FAO estimate that 10 million hectares of forest were cut down each year. 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. Deforestation in Africa is mainly driven by local populations and markets; only 9% of its emissions are exported. 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? (2017) estimate that the average EU diet, excluding deforestation, is responsible for 0.5 tonnes CO2 per person. If you want to reduce your carbon footprint, reducing meat and dairy intake particularly beef and lamb has the largest impact. It doesnt capture trees that are cut down in planted forests; the land is still forested, its now just regrowing forest. Historical data pre-1990 is sourced from Michael Williams book, Deforesting the Earth: from prehistory to global crisis. [1] That's 15.3 billion every year. 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. 71% of deforestation is for domestic production. Scientific Reports, 7, 40678. If we sum countries imported deforestation by World Bank income group, we find that high-income countries were responsible for 40% of imported deforestation; upper-middle income for 25%; lower-middle income for 20%; and low income for 5%. That depends on who you ask, but we do know that around 47 million hectares of primary forest were lost between 2000 and 2020. Forests still cover about 30 percent of the worlds land area, but they are disappearing at an alarming rate. It might seem odd to argue that we should focus our efforts on tackling this quarter of forest loss (rather than the other 73%). A study published on September 2, 2015 in the journal Nature suggests these answers: 3 trillion and 15.3 billion. It results in a permanent conversion of forest into an alternative land use. England is similar: in the late 11th century, 15% of the country was forested, and over the following centuries two-thirds were cut down. Thats one football field of forest lost every single second around the clock. Imported emissions are also high for Taiwan, Belgium and the Netherlands at around one tonne. The United States is the worlds largest consumer (and second largest producer, after Canada) of forest products. A study published on September 2, 2015 in the journal Nature suggests these answers: 3 trillion and 15.3 billion. Global deforestation reached its peak in the 1980s. Our articles and data visualizations rely on work from many different people and organizations. How many trees are cut down each year?. WebThe 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. The amount of land per person that was needed to produce enough food was not small in fact, it was much larger than today. Mapping tree density at a global scale. If poorer countries are cutting down forests to make food for rich consumers, then we should just stop trading these goods. That these countries have recently regained forests is also visible in the long-term forest trends above. Forest Transitions: why do we lose then regain forests? How much deforestation happens every day? Most traded emissions are embedded in soy and palm oil exports to China and India; and beef, soy and palm oil exports to Europe. Since there is often year-to-year variability in deforestation or reforestation rates, this is shown as the five-year average. 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.) Belhaven Press. That means that each year, one percent of all trees are being destroyed. Lets take an example. Clearing of the Brazilian Amazon for pasture and croplands was a major driver of this loss. 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. 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.) Data on the annual change in domestic forests is sourced from the UN FAOs Forest Resources Assessment. Explore long-term changes in deforestation, and deforestation rates across the world today. How many trees are lost to deforestation each year? The research says 15.3 billion trees are chopped down every year. Estimates vary, but on average only 10-20% of carbon is lost during logging, and 10-30% from fires.27 In a study of logging practices in the Amazon and Congo, forests retained 76% of their carbon stocks shortly after logging.28 Logged forests recover their carbon over time, as long as the land is not converted to other uses (which is what happens in the case of deforestation). (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. Web3.5 billion to 7 billion trees are cut down per year. The world loses 5 million hectares of forest to deforestation each year. Deforestation was therefore responsible for [2.6 / 40.2 * 100 = 6.5%]. The biodiversity of managed tree plantations which are periodically cut, regrown, cut again, then regrown is not the same. As mentioned above, about 15 billion trees are cut down each year. Thats a lot of trees! 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]. Healthy communities: Tree-filled neighborhoods lower levels of domestic violence and are safer and more sociable. Most deforestation today occurs in low-to-middle income countries. 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). The study also finds that human activity negatively affects tree abundance from the boreal forests to the equator. Nature, 525(7568), 201-205. The Asia-Pacific region predominantly Indonesia and Malaysia export a higher share: 44%. This number comes from the World Bank, which estimates that there are 3 trillion trees on the planet. [4] Forests cover 4.06 billion hectares (just less than 31%) of [4] Forests cover 4.06 billion hectares (just less than 31%) of Deforestation also results in larger losses of biodiversity and carbon relative to degradation. But when forests are cut, burned or otherwise removed they emit carbon instead of absorb carbon. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 361(1465), 195-210. The total cut down so far is over 470 million trees since January 1st. Thats more than the countrys CO2 emissions from fossil fuels, which are around 2.2 tonnes per person. Global forest resources. Hosonuma et al. Sometimes these restoration programmes pale in comparison to the deforestation theyre driving elsewhere. By the mid-18th century, only 4% of the country was forested. 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). If you struggle to increase crop yields but want to produce more food, then expanding your agricultural land is the only option. 1000 years ago, 20% of Scotlands land was covered by forest. The rate of deforestation is declining, but we still lost forests at a whopping 10 million hectares per year between 2015-2020. International trade was responsible for around one-third (29%) of these emissions. They first lose lots of forest, but reach a turning point and begin to regain it again. The researchs results are The consumption choices of people in these countries cause deforestation elsewhere in the world. Explore more of our work on Forests and Deforestation, Anthropogenic Biomes: 10,000 BCE to 2015 CE, The course and drivers of the forest transition: the case of France, The relationships of population and forest trends, An assessment of deforestation and forest degradation drivers in developing countries, Increasing human dominance of tropical forests, Proactive conservation to prevent habitat losses to agricultural expansion, Forest transition theory and the reforesting of Scotland, Is there a forest transition? Rome. Because people are starting to see how climate change affects trees. Rural Sociology, 63(4), 533-552. As we covered in a previous article, 60% of tropical deforestation is driven by beef, soybean and palm oil production. (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. Lewis, S. L., Edwards, D. P., & Galbraith, D. (2015). How many trees have been cut down? This helps consumers understand what products they should be concerned about, but also allows us to target specific supply chains. Brazils emissions are high because Brazilians eat a lot of beef. But, overall, oilseeds and beef tend to top the list for most countries. There is a geographical argument (why the tropics?) Forest degradation measures a thinning of the canopy a reduction in the density of trees in the area but without a change in land use. But by studying how forests have changed over time, theres good reason to think that a way forward is possible. The other issue that arises is that tree loss or forest loss data collected by satellite imagery often doesnt match the official statistics reported by governments in their land use inventories. That means that each year, one percent of all trees are being destroyed. One option is to adopt stricter guidelines on what suppliers to source from, and implementing zero-deforestation policies that stop the trade of goods that have been produced on deforested land. 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. Lewis, S. L., Edwards, D. P., & Galbraith, D. (2015). Not only would this be bad for people, it might also be bad for forests. Many countries have much less forest today than they did in the past. But when forests are cut, burned or otherwise removed they emit carbon instead of absorb carbon. After long periods of forest clearance in the past, most of todays richest countries are increasing tree cover through afforestation. That was 6.5% of global CO2 emissions.35. The same is true of the United States; back in 1630 46% of the area of todays USA was covered by forest. On balance, they add to the global forest stock. Stage 1 The Pre-Transition phase is defined by having high levels of forest cover and no or only very slow losses over time. 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.) For example, Ellis et al. The United States is the worlds largest consumer (and second largest producer, after Canada) of forest products. The diet of the average Brazilian creates 2.7 tonnes of CO2 from deforestation alone. And with the growth of technological innovations such as lab-grown meat and substitute products, there is the real possibility that we can continue to enjoy meat or meat-like foods while freeing up the massive amounts of land we use to raise livestock. All the software and code that we write is open source and made available via GitHub under the permissive MIT license. Noriko Hosonuma et al. 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. But we also see that some countries which import a lot of food have high emissions. Web3.5 billion to 7 billion trees are cut down per year. Nicolas-Jacques Cont, an officer in Napoleon's army, invented the modern pencil by combining graphite and clay for lead durability. It also estimates that 46% of the worlds trees have been cleared over the past 12,000 years. 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. Nearly all 95% of this deforestation occurs in the tropics. 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. If we look at where countries are in their transition today we can understand where we expect to lose and gain forest in the coming decades. Lets take a look at which countries are causing deforestation overseas and the size of this impact. Thats a lot of trees! , one percent of the area of todays USA was covered by forest made via. Need to pass the Transition very slow losses over time, theres good reason to think a! For 0.5 tonnes CO2 per person 1 ] that 's 15.3 billion we therefore look them! Add to the deforestation theyre driving elsewhere in forest area this helps consumers understand we. 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