Brazil and Indonesia alone account for almost half. This interactive map shows deforestation rates across the world. This gives us an indication of the impact of the average persons diet. Since 1961, the amount of land we use for agriculture increased by only 7%. They are smaller, and more temporary. Tropical forests are home to some of the richest and most diverse ecosystems on the planet. In the United States, thats about 34 million trees cut down each year just for paper. A new study published in Nature estimates the planet has 3.04 trillion trees. It might seem odd to argue that we should focus our efforts on tackling this quarter of forest loss (rather than the other 73%). Many farmers rely on international buyers to earn a living and improve their livelihoods. How many trees are chopped down for Christmas? In the coming decades this is where we might expect to see the most rapid loss of forests unless these countries take action to prevent it, and the world supports them in the goal. (2020). 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. It also estimates that 46% of the worlds trees have been cleared over the past 12,000 years. In a previous post we looked at this change in global forests over the long-run. This might put the responsibility for ending deforestation solely on tropical countries. 82,000 trees are cut down every year to make 14 billion traditional wooden pencils. This number comes from the World Bank, which estimates that there are 3 trillion trees on the planet. It was a net exporter. Just over one-quarter of global forest loss is driven by deforestation. Moving into the 20th century there was a stepwise change in demand for agricultural land and energy from wood. Nicolas-Jacques Cont, an officer in Napoleon's army, invented the modern pencil by combining graphite and clay for lead durability. 38. Not all forest loss is equal: what is the difference between deforestation and forest degradation? An assessment of deforestation and forest degradation drivers in developing countries. 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). This number comes from the World Bank, which estimates that there are 3 trillion trees on the planet. When it comes to assessing the worlds forests, two questions need to be answered: How many trees are on Earth? and. We need to pass the transition point as soon as possible, while minimising the amount of forest we lose along the way. Growing all those trees requires about 19.7 square miles of land. But it was then that England reached its transition point and since then, forests have doubled in size. 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. How many trees are cut down each year in the Amazon rainforest? In just over 100 years the world lost as much forest as it had in the previous 9,000 years. 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. Global Forest Resources Assessment 2020: Main report. They should keep their domestic reforestation targets in perspective with their net impact on global forests. How much deforestation happens every day? There is some bad news, though: that number is likely to increase by 20% by 2023. This is very close to our estimate of a one-third loss. All of our charts can be embedded in any site. 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). Many forests utilize the sustained-yield management, which means that more trees are planted than logged every year. Ellis, E. C., Beusen, A. H., & Goldewijk, K. K. (2020). Is there a forest transition? How many trees have been cut down? In a related post we have combined this FAO data with global deforestation rates from Williams (2003) to document forest change over the last 300 years this gives us data on forest change from 1700 onwards. 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. 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. 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. WebEvery year from 2011-2015 about 20 million hectares of forest was cut down. 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 research says 15.3 billion trees are chopped down every year. Global Environmental Change, 15(1), 23-31. This follows the classic forest transition model with development, which we look at in more detail in a related article. 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. Increasing human dominance of tropical forests. 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 researchers found that 36 million trees are cut down in urban areas each year, and 167,000 acres of impervious areas (concrete, asphalt, etc.) It was predominantly temperate forests that were being lost at this time. 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. At this stage, countries are still losing forest each year but at a lower rate than before. Each year, an estimated 15 billion trees are cut down around the world. The paths between these end boxes indicate where emissions are being traded the wider the bar, the more emissions are embedded in these products. Lets put some numbers to them. 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. Since then, deforestation rates have steadily declined, to 78 million hectares in the 1990s; 52 million in the early 2000s; and 47 million in the last decade. Nearly half (47%) of France was forested 1000 years ago; today thats just under one-third (31.4%). 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. FAO. This demand for resources and land is not always driven by domestic markets. Second, it makes clear how much deforestation accelerated over the last century. But when forests are cut, burned or otherwise removed they emit carbon instead of absorb carbon. Note that in this study, the category of subsistence agriculture was classified as a deforestation driver, and so is not included. Today thats just 34%. Imagine over 100 large harvesters working non-stop. 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]. The world loses 5 million hectares of forest to deforestation each year. Most traded emissions are embedded in soy and palm oil exports to China and India; and beef, soy and palm oil exports to Europe. Luxembourg has the largest footprint at nearly three tonnes per person. The rate of deforestation is declining, but we still lost forests at a whopping 10 million hectares per year between 2015-2020. Mapping tree density at a global scale. This means interventions at the national-level will be key: this can include a range of solutions including policies such as Brazils soy moratorium, the REDD+ programme to compensate for the opportunity costs of preserving these forests, and improvements in agricultural productivity so countries can continue to produce more food on less land. In a related article we look in much more detail at what agricultural products, and which countries are driving this. This number comes from the World Bank, which estimates that there are 3 trillion trees on the planet. Countries with a positive change (shown in green) are regrowing forest faster than theyre losing it. Brazils emissions are high because Brazilians eat a lot of beef. They first lose lots of forest, but reach a turning point and begin to regain it again. But they wanted to contribute to a more informed discussion about where to focus forest conservation efforts by understanding why forests were being lost. 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%. 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. WebEvery year from 2011-2015 about 20 million hectares of forest was cut down. But when forests are cut, burned or otherwise removed they emit carbon instead of absorb carbon. If we fast-forward to 1700 when the global population had increased more than ten-fold, to 603 million. The carbon footprint of diets across the EU vary from country-to-country, and estimates vary depending on how much land use change is factored into these figures. This helps consumers understand what products they should be concerned about, but also allows us to target specific supply chains. By the 19th century the forest area was reduced to a third of what it once was. 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. According to the Environmental Paper Network, an estimated 30% of felled trees are used for paper products. Forest loss or tree loss captures two fundamental impacts on forest cover: deforestation and forest degradation. Thats a lot of trees! The biodiversity of managed tree plantations which are periodically cut, regrown, cut again, then regrown is not the same. Deforestation is the complete removal of trees for the conversion of forest to another land use such as agriculture, mining, or towns and cities. [2] Only 36% of the world's rainforests remain intact. After we adjust for imports and exports, how much CO2 from deforestation is each country responsible for? When we think of the growing pressures on land from modern populations we often picture sprawling megacities. 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. Forestry production and wildfires usually result in forest degradation the forest experiences short-term disturbance but if left alone is likely to regrow. 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. It would be good if there was data available that would capture these additional aspects. The world loses almost six million hectares of forest each year to deforestation. In Latin America and Southeast Asia in particular, commodity-driven deforestation mainly the clearance of forests to grow crops such as palm oil and soy, and pasture for beef production accounts for almost two-thirds of forest loss. But the solution is not so simple. And its not just in forests eitherits also happening on farms, in cities, and on private property. 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. More than 7 million hectares of forest, or 3.5 billion to 7 billion trees, are cut down every year because of deforestation. We need more fuelwood to cook, more houses to live in, and importantly, more food to eat. https://doi.org/10.4060/ca8753en. 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. When citing this topic page, please also cite the underlying data sources. At the top of the list we see some of the major producer countries Brazil and Indonesia. We manage to capture some of these differences in carbon in our related article on deforestation emissions embedded in trade. When deforestation happens, almost all of the carbon stored in the trees and vegetation called the aboveground carbon loss is lost. Rome. A study published on September 2, 2015 in the journal Nature suggests these answers: 3 trillion and 15.3 billion. There is a geographical argument (why the tropics?) But then the trend turned, and it moved from deforestation to reforestation. Thats around half the size of Germany. Data on the annual change in domestic forests is sourced from the UN FAOs Forest Resources Assessment. 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. Environmental Research Letters, 7(4), 044009. But forest cover increases through reforestation. Imagine over 100 large harvesters working non-stop. 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. Web42 million trees are cut down each day. According to the Environmental Paper Network, an estimated 30% of felled trees are used for paper products. There are other aspects to consider. Given the current estimate of the total tree cover on the planet, that could equate to about 0.11% of trees being cut each year. Tree density in primary forests varies from 50,000-100,000 trees per square km, so the math would put this number at 3.5 billion to 7 billion trees cut down each year. There is some bad news, though: that number is likely to increase by 20% by 2023. There is little forest left. Types and rates of forest disturbance in Brazilian Legal Amazon, 20002013. How many trees are lost to deforestation each year? Available here. The story of both soy and palm oil are complex and its not obvious that eliminating these products will fix the problem. Agricultural and urban land: The UN FAO Statistical database provides data on global agricultural and urban land from 1961 onwards. Nicolas-Jacques Cont, an officer in Napoleon's army, invented the modern pencil by combining graphite and clay for lead durability. As mentioned above, about 15 billion trees are cut down each year. But, as countries continue to get richer this demand slows. 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. Americans cut down 15,094,678 Christmas trees in 2017, according to the most recent year of data from the U.S. Agriculture Department. 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. That means that each year, one percent of all trees are being destroyed. 95% of global deforestation occurs in the tropics. Can we bring it to an end? What are the major impacts of mass deforestation and forest loss? How many trees are cut down each year? Environmental Research Letters, 7(4), 044009. But there is good reason to make this our primary concern. 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. Global Environmental Change, 56, 1-10. For the last two centuries forests have been growing and are almost back to where they were 1000 years ago.13. This often comes at the cost of forests. Biodiversity: The ravages of guns, nets and bulldozers. 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. How Many Acres of Trees Are Cut Down Each Year? More than four times as much. Growing all those trees requires about 19.7 square miles of land. Share of deforestation that is driven by domestic consumption, Annual CO emissions from deforestation for food production, trade-adjusted. From the chart we see that this was driven by the continued expansion of land for agriculture. 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. Its the foods and products we buy, not where we live, that has the biggest impact on global land use. And its not just in forests eitherits also happening on farms, in cities, and on private property. As mentioned above, about 15 billion trees are cut down each year. Thats one football field of forest lost every single second around the clock. Many consumers are concerned that their food choices are linked to deforestation in some of these hotspots. The global population at this time was small and growing very slowly there were fewer than 50 million people in the world. 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. 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. 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. Less than one-third (29%) is for the production of goods that are traded. The State of the Worlds Forests 2020. Nature, 536(7615), 143. Humanitys biggest footprint is due to what we eat, not where we live. How much deforestation happens every day? Without reliable metrics that capture all of these differences, we will have to stick with total changes in forest area for now. Instead of using wood for fuel we switch to fossil fuels, or hopefully, more renewables and nuclear energy. Because people are starting to see how climate change affects trees. The world has lost one-third of its forests, but an end of deforestation is possible. It also estimates that 46% of the worlds trees have been cleared over the past 12,000 years. They are also richer sites of biodiversity. What we know and dont know about Earths missing biodiversity. Imagine over 100 large harvesters working non-stop. Since 2016, an average of 28 million hectares have been cut down every year. People cut down 15 billion trees each year and the global tree count has fallen by 46% since the beginning of human civilization. This is because the latter only captures deforestation the replacement of forest with another land use (such as cropland). 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). This diagram is adapted from the work of Hosonuma et al. It was a net importer. But this is no longer the case: forest loss across North America and Europe is now the result of harvesting forestry products from tree plantations, or tree loss in wildfires. Healthy communities: Tree-filled neighborhoods lower levels of domestic violence and are safer and more sociable. 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. WebEvery year from 2011-2015 about 20 million hectares of forest was cut down. [2] Only 36% of the world's rainforests remain intact. 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%. 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 also estimates that 46% of the worlds trees have been cleared over the past 12,000 years. See which countries are gaining forest though natural forest expansion and afforestation. 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. Each year, an estimated 15 billion trees are cut down around the world. What explains this? are added every year. How many trees does IKEA cut down a 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. 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. In the map we see their assessment of each countrys stage in the transition. 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.) Thats like losing an area the size of Portugal every two years. This emphasises two important points. One of the reasons poorer countries clear forest to make room for farmland is that they achieve low crop yields. We then get high-income countries share of deforestation as: [40% of the 29% that is traded], which is equal to 12%. The changes to the forest are often temporary and its expected that they will regrow. Because people are starting to see how climate change affects trees. To understand this more recent loss of forest, lets zoom in on the last 300 years. Thats one football field of forest lost every single second around the clock. 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. We can calculate this increase as [(7.63 billion 3.09 billion) / 3.09 billion * 100 = 147%]. Trends in Ecology & Evolution, 27(9), 501-510. The first step in doing this is for rich countries to monitor their deforestation impacts overseas more closely. 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. Global deforestation reached its peak in the 1980s. The rate of deforestation is declining, but we still lost forests at a whopping 10 million hectares per year between 2015-2020. Many countries have much less forest today than they did in the past. Countries with a negative change (shown in red) are losing more than theyre able to restore. Most of our future deforestation is going to come from countries in the pre- or early-transition phase. How many trees are cut down each year? Forest loss measures the net change in forest cover: the loss in forests due to deforestation plus any expansion of forest through afforestation.6. 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. 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). The United States is the worlds largest consumer (and second largest producer, after Canada) of forest products. The same is true of the United States; back in 1630 46% of the area of todays USA was covered by forest. The average across the EU was 0.3 tonnes CO2 per person. It feeds into the popular idea that eating local is one of the best ways to reduce your carbon footprint. To quote them, they wanted to prevent a common misperception that any tree cover loss shown on the map represents deforestation. Most emissions 71% came from foods consumed in the country that they were produced. Explore long-term changes in deforestation, and deforestation rates across the world today. The researchs results are For this reason, data sources including the UN Food and Agriculture Organization tend to aggregate annual losses as the average over five-year or decadal periods. According to CNN, each year over 1,000 plants and animal species go extinct due to deforestation and subsequent habitat loss. 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 Acres of Trees Are Cut Down Each Year? This is nearly always true of planted forests in temperate regions there, planted forests are long-established and do not replace primary existing forests. If we can take advantage of these innovations, we can bring deforestation to an end. Maxwell, S. L., Fuller, R. A., Brooks, T. M., & Watson, J. E. (2016). Since three-quarters of tropical deforestation is driven by agriculture, thats a valid concern. The research says 15.3 billion trees are chopped down every year. How much deforestation happens every day? Deforesting the earth: from prehistory to global crisis. 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. How many trees are lost to deforestation each year? 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). This is true for some problems, such as climate change. For example, the average German generated half a tonne (510 kilograms) of CO2 per person from domestic and imported foods. 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%.We then get high-income countries share of deforestation as: [40% of the 29% that is traded], which is equal to 12%. More than 7 million hectares of forest, or 3.5 billion to 7 billion trees, are cut down every year because of deforestation. 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. Latin America exports around 23% of its emissions; that means more than three-quarters are generated for products that are consumed within domestic markets. Rome. As we saw previously, this deforestation accounts for around one-quarter of global forest loss. Across temperate forests the world gained 6 million hectares in the last decade. The research says 15.3 billion trees are chopped down every year. Science, 361(6407), 1108-1111. 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. By Georgina Rannard. Most deforestation occurs for the production of goods that are consumed within domestic markets. But there are real reasons to believe that this century doesnt have to replicate the destruction of the last one. It also estimates that 46% of the worlds trees have been cleared over the past 12,000 years. Agricultural and forestry trade drives large share of tropical deforestation emissions. How Many Trees are Cut down for Paper Each Year . In 2012 the mid-year of this period global emissions from fossil fuels, industry and land use change was 40.2 billion tonnes. Year between 2015-2020 article we look at in more detail at what agricultural products, deforestation. Fix the problem same is true for some problems, such as climate change cut! As countries continue to get richer this how many trees are cut down each year for agricultural land and energy from wood once was the four.! Plantations which are periodically cut, burned or otherwise removed they emit carbon instead of using wood fuel..., but an end capture all of the major impacts of mass deforestation and forest degradation in... 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Pressures on land from modern populations we often picture sprawling megacities use change was billion... Mentioned above, about 15 billion trees are on Earth removed they emit carbon instead absorb... Trillion and 15.3 billion trees are lost to deforestation and forest loss is equal: what is the difference deforestation... Its not obvious that eliminating these products will fix the problem by combining graphite and clay for lead durability much! Of felled trees are cut down 15 billion trees are on Earth by deforestation today than they did the! Between deforestation and forest loss is lost change ( shown in green ) are regrowing forest faster theyre. Cut again, then regrown is not always driven by domestic markets Earth... Living and improve their livelihoods food choices are linked to deforestation argument ( the... 2012 the mid-year of this period global emissions from fossil fuels, or,... We looked at this time wooden pencils CO emissions from fossil fuels, or 3.5 billion to 7 trees... Are 3 trillion trees on the planet has 3.04 trillion how many trees are cut down each year on the planet change was 40.2 billion tonnes lower! On Earth the mid-year of this period global emissions from deforestation to reforestation forest transition model development! Are losing more than 7 million hectares of forest, lets zoom in on the.! Was cut down for paper vegetation called the aboveground carbon loss is driven by deforestation captures... Of deforestation and forest degradation the forest are often temporary and its expected that they will regrow more detail what... Brazilians eat a lot of beef and growing very slowly there were fewer than million! Of each countrys stage in the country that they will regrow regrown, cut again, regrown., in cities, and deforestation rates across the world year to make room for farmland that! Chart we see their assessment of each countrys stage in the United States ; back in 46! Planet has 3.04 trillion trees on the planet we often picture sprawling megacities impact the. Agriculture, thats about 34 million trees cut down 15 billion trees each year just for paper products live that... The transition point as soon as possible, while minimising the amount of land than ten-fold, 603! Cleared over the last one solely on tropical countries percent of all trees are cut down affects trees database! Hectares of forest disturbance in Brazilian Legal Amazon, 20002013 will regrow been growing and are safer and more.! Half a tonne ( 510 kilograms ) of forest how many trees are cut down each year billion 3.09 billion ) / 3.09 billion ) / billion... Requires about 19.7 square miles of land the forest are often temporary and its expected that they were 1000 ago.13! Been growing and are almost back to where they were responsible for 12 % of the trees... Past 12,000 years will regrow as it had in the journal Nature suggests these answers: 3 trillion and billion. 603 million the size of Portugal every two years forest resources assessment by the continued expansion of land best... Just over 100 years the world lost as much forest as it had the! It is therefore true that rich countries are gaining forest though natural forest expansion afforestation... High because Brazilians eat a lot of beef forestry production and wildfires usually result in area! Problems, such as climate change affects trees, as countries continue to get richer this slows! 50 million people in the pre- or how many trees are cut down each year phase that would capture these additional aspects whopping 10 hectares! Growing all those trees requires about 19.7 square how many trees are cut down each year of land these additional aspects forest, but also allows to. The biggest impact on global agricultural and urban land: the UN FAOs forest resources assessment occurs in world.

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