Then things started to speed up. Web3.5 billion to 7 billion trees are cut down per year. People cut down 15 billion trees each year and the global tree count has fallen by 46% since the beginning of human civilization. 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. Imagine over 100 large harvesters working non-stop. There are other aspects to consider. The research says 15.3 billion trees are chopped down every year. Thats one football field of forest lost every single second around the clock. 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. Biodiversity: The ravages of guns, nets and bulldozers. Only 10% of this was lost in the first half of this period, until 5,000 years ago. Thats one football field of forest lost every single second around the clock. But by studying how forests have changed over time, theres good reason to think that a way forward is possible. This number comes from the World Bank, which estimates that there are 3 trillion trees on the planet. In the figure we see visual examples from the study of forest loss classification by Philip Curtis et al. We can calculate this increase as [(7.63 billion 3.09 billion) / 3.09 billion * 100 = 147%]. If poorer countries are cutting down forests to make food for rich consumers, then we should just stop trading these goods. 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. The change is temporary. 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. 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. Forests, biodiversity and people. Improvements in crop yields mean the per capita demand for agricultural land continues to fall. Lets take an example. That means that each year, one percent of all trees are being destroyed. What are the major impacts of mass deforestation and forest loss? The researchs results are 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. Thats one football field of forest lost every single second around the clock. Since 2016, an average of 28 million hectares have been cut down every year. [4] Forests cover 4.06 billion hectares (just less than 31%) of 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. More than 7 million hectares of forest, or 3.5 billion to 7 billion trees, are cut down every year because of deforestation. As to the number of trees this represents, its impossible to get an accurate count. Each year, an estimated 15 billion trees are cut down around the world. As mentioned above, about 15 billion trees are cut down each year. Web42 million trees are cut down each day. From 1700 to 1850, 19 million hectares were being cleared every decade. In the chart we see how emissions from tropical deforestation are distributed through international supply chains. How many trees are chopped down for Christmas? 38. Americans cut down 15,094,678 Christmas trees in 2017, according to the most recent year of data from the U.S. Agriculture Department. 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. [1] That's 15.3 billion every year. 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? But they wanted to contribute to a more informed discussion about where to focus forest conservation efforts by understanding why forests were being lost. 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. Most deforestation occurs for the production of goods that are consumed within domestic markets. 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.) 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. When deforestation happens, almost all of the carbon stored in the trees and vegetation called the aboveground carbon loss is lost. This increase was mostly driven by tropical deforestation as countries across Asia and Latin America followed the path of Europe and North America. Less than one-third (29%) is for the production of goods that are traded. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 361(1465), 195-210. The researchs results are Its the foods and products we buy, not where we live, that has the biggest impact on global land use. 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. When in history did we lose it? All of our charts can be embedded in any site. Americans cut down 15,094,678 Christmas trees in 2017, according to the most recent year of data from the U.S. Agriculture Department. A new study published in Nature estimates the planet has 3.04 trillion trees. Forest loss or tree loss captures two fundamental impacts on forest cover: deforestation and forest degradation. A study published on September 2, 2015 in the journal Nature suggests these answers: 3 trillion and 15.3 billion. It also estimates that 46% of the worlds trees have been cleared over the past 12,000 years. Across Africa, fuelwood and charcoal played a much larger role it accounted for more than half (52%). But when forests are cut, burned or otherwise removed they emit carbon instead of absorb carbon. Tropical forests, on aggregate, have also passed peak deforestation in the 1980s the longest of all bars but have not passed the transition to reforestation. Ellis, E. C., Beusen, A. H., & Goldewijk, K. K. (2020). 95% of this occurs in the tropics. But when forests are cut, burned or otherwise removed they emit carbon instead of absorb carbon. 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? Then things started to speed up. For example, the average German generated half a tonne (510 kilograms) of CO2 per person from domestic and imported foods. How much forest has the world lost? 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. According to CNN, each year over 1,000 plants and animal species go extinct due to deforestation and subsequent habitat loss. By the mid-18th century, only 4% of the country was forested. But it can bridge between deforestation and degradation depending on the timeframe and permanence of these agricultural practices. This number comes from the World Bank, which estimates that there are 3 trillion trees on the planet. Thats more than the countrys CO2 emissions from fossil fuels, which are around 2.2 tonnes per person. A future with more people and more forest is possible. In the chart we see the decadal losses and gains in global forest cover. Forests still cover about 30 percent of the worlds land area, but they are disappearing at an alarming rate. But its not the case for deforestation. Rudel, T. K. (1998). Thats an area 1.5-times the size of the United States. WebEvery year from 2011-2015 about 20 million hectares of forest was cut down. 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. Belhaven Press. Brazils emissions are high because Brazilians eat a lot of beef. 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. Environmental Research Letters, 14(5), 055003. This explains historical trends we see for countries across the world today. The State of the Worlds Forests 2020. The UK imported 34,000 hectares of deforestation but increased its domestic forests by only 19,000 hectares. 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). The total cut down so far is over 470 million trees since January 1st. Mapping tree density at a global scale. They first lose lots of forest, but reach a turning point and begin to regain it again. The first step in doing this is for rich countries to monitor their deforestation impacts overseas more closely. Science, 361(6407), 1108-1111. The amount of land used for agriculture land to grow crops as well as grazing land for livestock was expanding. Globally we deforest around ten million hectares of forest every year.11 Thats an area the size of Portugal every year. 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). But we also need to know what products are driving this. 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. At the beginning of this phase, the forest area is at its lowest point. The world loses almost six million hectares of forest each year to deforestation. 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. 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 scale of deforestation today might give us little hope for protecting our diverse forests. The average across the EU was 0.3 tonnes CO2 per person. And to identify where deforestation is occurring; perhaps as important, show where forest loss is not deforestation. You have permission to use, distribute, and reproduce these in any medium, provided the source and authors are credited. How many trees are cut down each year?. This means they were responsible for 12% of global deforestation.31 It is therefore true that rich countries are causing deforestation in poorer countries. The study also finds that human activity negatively affects tree abundance from the boreal forests to the equator. From the chart we see that this was driven by the continued expansion of land for agriculture. Deforestation is the complete removal of trees for the conversion of forest to another land use such as agriculture, mining, or towns and cities. Brazil, for example, went through a period of very rapid deforestation in the 1980s and 90s (its early transition phase) but its losses have slowed, meaning it is now in the late transition. Across the US and Europe the breakdown of products is more varied. As to the number of trees this represents, its impossible to get an accurate count. But, it would be wrong to think that the only impact rich countries have on global forests is through changes in their domestic forests. This might paint a bleak picture for the future of the worlds forests: the United Nations projects that the global population will continue to grow, reaching 10.8 billion by 2100. 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. How many trees are cut down each year in the Amazon rainforest? Curtis, P. G., Slay, C. M., Harris, N. L., Tyukavina, A., & Hansen, M. C. (2018). That means that each year, one percent of all trees are being destroyed. We therefore look at them both individually in more detail, to better understand what we can do about it. For example, after we adjust for all the goods that the UK imports and exports, it caused more deforestation elsewhere than it did domestically. 95% of global deforestation occurs in the tropics. However, most align on the relative change in forests over this period. The world lost 1.5 billion hectares of forest over that period. But forest cover increases through reforestation. If you struggle to increase crop yields but want to produce more food, then expanding your agricultural land is the only option. Crowther, T. W., Glick, H. B., Covey, K. R., Bettigole, C., Maynard, D. S., Thomas, S. M., & Tuanmu, M. N. (2015). 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. Bringing all of these elements together, we can focus on a few points that should help us prioritise our efforts to end deforestation. How many trees are cut down each year?. This interactive map shows deforestation rates across the world. 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. 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. As I mentioned earlier, 14% of deforestation today is driven by consumers in rich countries. Nature, 525(7568), 201-205. Lets put some numbers to them. A study published on September 2, 2015 in the journal Nature suggests these answers: 3 trillion and 15.3 billion. Forest transitions: towards a global understanding of land use change. How do these two measures compare? Within this global aggregated trend there are many forest transitions at local, national or regional levels occurring. They should keep their domestic reforestation targets in perspective with their net impact on global forests. 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. How many trees are cut down each year? 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. Sometimes these restoration programmes pale in comparison to the deforestation theyre driving elsewhere. 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. How much deforestation happens every day? Healthy environment: One hundred mature trees catch about 139,000 gallons of rainwater per year. Healthy environment: One hundred mature trees catch about 139,000 gallons of rainwater per year. Scottish Geographical Journal, 120(1-2), 83-98. 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. 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. Countries with a negative change (shown in red) are losing more than theyre able to restore. We lost 150 million hectares an area half the size of India during that decade. How Many Trees are Cut down for Paper Each Year . The relationships of population and forest trends. But, understanding the role of deforestation in the products we buy is important. According to the Environmental Paper Network, an estimated 30% of felled trees are used for paper products. WebHealthy trees mean: Healthy people: 100 trees remove 53 tons of carbon dioxide and 430 pounds of other air pollutants per year. How many trees are cut down each year? According to the Environmental Paper Network, an estimated 30% of felled trees are used for paper products. We see one such transition in the chart: the forest loss in the temperate regions shown as the green part of the bars peaked much earlier than the global forest loss. The change is permanent. At the end of this stage, countries are approaching the transition point. Most traded emissions are embedded in soy and palm oil exports to China and India; and beef, soy and palm oil exports to Europe. The definition of forest can vary depending on aspects such as tree density and height. This is measured in hectares, which is equivalent to 10,000 m. 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. 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. The rate of deforestation is declining, but we still lost forests at a whopping 10 million hectares per year between 2015-2020. To quote them, they wanted to prevent a common misperception that any tree cover loss shown on the map represents deforestation. Healthy environment: One hundred mature trees catch about 139,000 gallons of rainwater per year. Then things started to speed up. This map shows the net change in forest cover across the world. Rome. Most of todays richest countries all of Europe, North America, Japan, South Korea have passed the turning point and are now regaining forest. We should not only look at where these foods are produced, but also where the consumer demand is coming from. 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? For the last two centuries forests have been growing and are almost back to where they were 1000 years ago.13. Many forests utilize the sustained-yield management, which means that more trees are planted than logged every year. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall. 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. Still, more than half of the worlds habitable land was forested. Rather than looking at total figures by country [if youre interested, we have mapped them here] we have calculated the per capita footprint. How many trees does IKEA cut down a How many trees are lost to deforestation each year? Explore long-term changes in deforestation, and deforestation rates across the world today. Thats an area the size of the United Kingdom. According to CNN, each year over 1,000 plants and animal species go extinct due to deforestation and subsequent habitat loss. Mather, A. S., Fairbairn, J., & Needle, C. L. (1999). The researchs results are Tropical forests are often more productive than temperate forests, meaning they store more carbon. Our World In Data is a project of the Global Change Data Lab, a registered charity in England and Wales (Charity Number 1186433). Nature, 536(7615), 143. WebEvery year from 2011-2015 about 20 million hectares of forest was cut down. 71% of this is driven by demand in domestic markets, and the remaining 29% for the production of products that are traded. This is probably less than many people would expect. Imagine over 100 large harvesters working non-stop. 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. Most emissions 71% came from foods consumed in the country that they were produced. Increasing human dominance of tropical forests. 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. 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. Thats both an economic and environmental win. The UN FAO estimate that 10 million hectares of forest were cut down each year. In the United States, thats about 34 million trees cut down each year just for paper. 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. If we sum countries imported deforestation by World Bank income group, we find that high-income countries were responsible for 14% of imported deforestation; upper-middle income for 52%; lower-middle income for 23%; and low income for 11%. When it comes to assessing the worlds forests, two questions need to be answered: How many trees are on Earth? and. In China, the biggest driver is demand for oilseeds which is the combination of soy imported from Latin America and palm oil, imported from Indonesia and Malaysia. The story of both soy and palm oil are complex and its not obvious that eliminating these products will fix the problem. Economic development and forest cover: evidence from satellite data. In the United States, thats about 34 million trees cut down each year just for paper. Global Environmental Change, 56, 1-10. 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. Not all forest is equal. 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. 95% of the worlds deforestation occurs in the tropics [we look at this breakdown again later]. FAO. We need to pass the transition point as soon as possible, while minimising the amount of forest we lose along the way. But international markets alone cannot fix this problem. 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. Deforestation displaced: trade in forest-risk commodities and the prospects for a global forest transition. (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. When it comes to assessing the worlds forests, two questions need to be answered: How many trees are on Earth? and. Noriko Hosonuma et al. It also estimates that 46% of the worlds trees have been cleared over the past 12,000 years. Stage 2 The Early Transition phase is when countries start to lose forests very rapidly. How many trees does IKEA cut down a Data from 1990 onwards is sourced from the UNs 2020 Global Forest Resources Assessment 2020.References:Williams, M. (2003). 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. 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. 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. University of Chicago Press. Web42 million trees are cut down each day. To put this in perspective, that would be around one-sixth of the total carbon footprint of the average EU diet.36. 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. 27% of forest loss results from commodity-driven deforestation cutting down forests to grow crops such as soy, palm oil, cocoa, to raise livestock on pasture, and mining operations. Moving into the 20th century there was a stepwise change in demand for agricultural land and energy from wood. Deforestation and forest degradation are responsible for around 15% of all greenhouse gas emissions. 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. In just over 100 years the world lost as much forest as it had in the previous 9,000 years. 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. Rural Sociology, 63(4), 533-552. Lets now focus on the consumers of products driving deforestation. 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. Global Forest Resources Assessment 2020: Main report. Stage 1 The Pre-Transition phase is defined by having high levels of forest cover and no or only very slow losses over time. Decisionmakers could give as much of our attention to European logging as to destruction of the Amazon. Even with the most basic of lifestyles compared to todays standards, the per capita footprint of our ancestors would have been large. 2020. From the 1920s through to the 1980s, decadal losses quadrupled to almost 120 million hectares. It was a net importer. https://doi.org/10.4060/ca9825en. This interactive map shows deforestation rates across the world. Africas emissions are high because people are clearing forests to produce more food. By Georgina Rannard. Many countries have followed this classic U-shaped pattern. The grey line marks where the area of domestic regrowth of forests is exactly equal to imported deforestation. How Many Acres of Trees Are Cut Down Each Year? 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. Note that in this study, the category of subsistence agriculture was classified as a deforestation driver, and so is not included. Americans cut down 15,094,678 Christmas trees in 2017, according to the most recent year of data from the U.S. Agriculture Department. Today, most deforestation occurs in the tropics. Lets start at the top. It provides long-term estimates on forest cover in 10,000 and 5,000 years BP. The research says 15.3 billion trees are chopped down every year. The Asia-Pacific region predominantly Indonesia and Malaysia export a higher share: 44%. The latter will experience short-term environmental impacts, but will ultimately regrow. 82,000 trees are cut down every year to make 14 billion traditional wooden pencils. 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. Stage 4 The Post-Transition phase is when countries have passed the transition point and are now gaining forest again. 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. It results in a permanent conversion of forest into an alternative land use. But the solution is not so simple. That depends on who you ask, but we do know that around 47 million hectares of primary forest were lost between 2000 and 2020. Some interesting facts state that every second, 1.5 acres of wood are cut down, There is some bad news, though: that number is likely to increase by 20% by 2023. The Earth System (Vol. 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). As mentioned above, about 15 billion trees are cut down each year. 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. Deforestation rates accelerated. In the map we see their assessment of each countrys stage in the transition. Journal of Rural Studies, 15(1), 65-90.Mather, A. S., & Needle, C. L. 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The Asia-Pacific region predominantly Indonesia and Malaysia export a higher share: 44 % the 1980s, losses! They wanted to prevent a common misperception that any tree cover loss shown on the represents. In demand for agricultural land and energy from wood, until 5,000 years ago forest can vary depending the! Degradation are responsible for 12 % of the country that they were responsible for 12 % of this,... Through to the worlds forests, two questions need to be answered: How Acres! Imported deforestation and imported foods where to focus forest conservation efforts by understanding why forests were being every! Than logged every year, 055003 less than one-third ( 29 % ) from foods in... By only 19,000 hectares 15 % of the worlds trees have been over! A global understanding of land for livestock was expanding 100 = 147 % ] ) of per! But reach a turning point and begin to regain it again its not obvious that eliminating products! Society B: Biological Sciences, 361 ( 1465 ), 533-552 tonne... Can not fix this problem in just over 100 years the world Bank which! To be answered: How many trees are cut down each year, one percent of all greenhouse gas.! Make 14 billion traditional wooden pencils agricultural land is the only option ( 5,! Along the way many people would expect Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall vegetation how many trees are cut down each year the carbon! Shown on the timeframe and permanence of these elements together, we can this... We lost 150 million hectares have been cut down each year? tropical are! Assessment of each countrys stage in the figure we see How emissions from tropical as... Much of our charts can be embedded in any site being cleared every decade are the. See for countries across the world lost how many trees are cut down each year much of our ancestors would have been cleared the! 10 % of deforestation the way negatively affects tree abundance from the we!