{"id":1285,"date":"2021-01-18T12:48:59","date_gmt":"2021-01-18T12:48:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/?p=1285"},"modified":"2024-02-18T15:56:04","modified_gmt":"2024-02-18T15:56:04","slug":"deforestation-statistics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/deforestation-statistics\/","title":{"rendered":"43 Alarming Deforestation Statistics (2024 UPDATE)"},"content":{"rendered":"
Forests cover approximately 30% of the planet’s surface. They’re a great source of food, medicine, and fuel for millions of people worldwide.<\/span><\/p>\n As deforestation statistics reveal, forests are also great for agriculture and grazing. The timber is excellent for fuel, manufacturing, and construction. All this leads to more deforestation.<\/span><\/p>\n If you want to know more about habitat destruction facts and other vital facts and statistics on global deforestation, keep reading.<\/span><\/p>\n We lose millions of acres of land every year. If this doesn\u2019t sound scary enough, let\u2019s put it into another perspective. Each second we lose a forest the size of a football field. Let\u2019s see some more scary statistics.<\/span><\/p>\n (FAO)<\/span><\/p>\n Even though the loss rate slowed down by half from 2010 to 2020, we\u2019re still losing too much primary forest, according to the rainforest destruction facts.<\/span><\/p>\n Trees absorb the carbon dioxide that humans exhale, but they also trap the greenhouse gases we create every day.<\/span><\/p>\n Deforestation leaves animals without homes. But it also allows these gasses to go into the atmosphere, increasing global warming.<\/span><\/p>\n (Live Science, The Guardian)<\/span><\/p>\n This means that every year the world loses 14,800 square miles of forest, which is an area of Switzerland’s size.<\/span><\/p>\n Since 2003, we’ve lost double the amount of global tree cover. Deforestation in essential tropical rainforests has also doubled since 2008.<\/span><\/p>\n (Bloomberg)<\/span><\/p>\n This is less than what was lost in 2016 and 2017. However, deforestation statistics from 2019 show that this was the third-highest record of annual deforestation since 2001. Brazil suffered the most significant loss.<\/span><\/p>\n (FAO)<\/span><\/p>\n The rates of deforestation in the 90s were 16 million ha a year. They did lower to 10 million ha between 2015 and 2020.<\/span><\/p>\n Still, deforestation continues. The demand for timber, palm oil, beef, and soy, is enormous as the rainforest deforestation statistics reveal.<\/span><\/p>\n (The Balance)<\/span><\/p>\n Approximately 80% of the planet’s land animals and plants live in forests. Deforestation has already destroyed millions of species’ natural habitats.<\/span><\/p>\n Moreover, deforestation doesn\u2019t only affect animals\u2019 habitats. Indigenous people are endangered, as well, since they rely on the rainforest to survive.<\/span><\/p>\n Illegal logging and agriculture are some of the main culprits for deforestation. Sadly, having fewer forests isn’t the only consequence of land clearing. The aftermath is causing disastrous effects.<\/span><\/p>\n (The Balance)<\/span><\/p>\n There are four leading deforestation causes, with agriculture as the primary and logging as the second biggest cause.<\/span><\/p>\n The deforestation facts also reveal that urbanization is the third deforestation cause. 33% of all the houses in the United States are close to a forest. The fourth leading cause is wildfires.<\/span><\/p>\n (IUCN)<\/span><\/p>\n The WWF has already classified the orangutan species as endangered. If the deforestation for palm oil plantations continues, the entire species will be extinct within the next 25 years.<\/span><\/p>\n This is because their lives depend on the rainforest.<\/span><\/p>\n (Greenpeace USA)<\/span><\/p>\n Statistics on deforestation show agriculture is the leading cause of rainforest deforestation. On the other hand, logging is the leading cause of forest degradation.<\/span><\/p>\n However, deforestation reasons depend on the region.<\/span><\/p>\n In Latin America, cattle ranching and large-scale agriculture are the leading causes of deforestation. In contrast, Indonesia’s main deforestation culprit is the palm oil industry.<\/span><\/p>\n (The World Counts)<\/span><\/p>\n Deforested areas are very prone to erosion and flooding. According to deforestation facts on causes and effects, this is because of the lack of tree roots holding the solid down.<\/span><\/p>\n Additionally, more land is exposed to the sun without the tree cover, which eventually dries out the soil and makes it unsuitable for farming.<\/span><\/p>\n Moreover, erosion also contaminates streams and lakes, decreasing the quality of drinking water in the area.<\/span><\/p>\n (The World Counts)<\/span><\/p>\n According to rainforest deforestation facts, tropical rainforests store more than 210Gt of CO2 absorbed from the atmosphere.<\/span><\/p>\n Trees absorb greenhouse gases, and they produce oxygen and water vapor that they then release into the atmosphere.<\/span><\/p>\n However, after deforestation, these gases are released directly into the atmosphere, leading to global warming.<\/span><\/p>\n (Al Jazeera)<\/span><\/p>\n Brazil managed to lower CO2 emissions from 2004 to 2012. Unfortunately, the trend went uphill and even increased by 9.6% in 2019. Brazil alone emitted 2.175 billion tons of CO2 in 2019.<\/span><\/p>\n The main reason for the reverse was the deforestation in the Amazon rainforest, as the Amazon deforestation facts reveal. Studies reveal that deforestation accounted for 44% of Amazon’s CO2 emissions.<\/span><\/p>\n The US forest industry employs over a million people. If we keep up with the deforestation trends, not only we won\u2019t have fresh air, but millions of people will lose jobs.<\/span><\/p>\n (The Guardian)<\/span><\/p>\n As urban areas are developing and enriching cities’ skylines, the land is being cleared. When it comes to the loss of biodiversity facts, it is revealed that US cities lose on average 36 million trees a year due to urbanization.<\/span><\/p>\n Urban areas in the US are losing 175,000 acres of tree cover a year. 40% of that land is now covered in buildings and roads.<\/span><\/p>\n (LoveToKnow)<\/span><\/p>\n We have mentioned<\/span> farming purposes<\/span><\/a>, but the real reason for deforestation is money.<\/span><\/p>\n Facts about deforestation reveal that a significant number of people who live in highly forested areas get lured into deforestation by logging companies.<\/span><\/p>\n Loggers get the wood, and landowners end up with clear land, which can be further sold for even more money.<\/span><\/p>\n (Global Forest Watch)<\/span><\/p>\n This accounts for 14% of total tree cover loss since 2000, leading to deforestation. It also contributed to releasing 11.1Gt of CO2.<\/span><\/p>\n Deforestation statistics from 2020 reveal that Alaska, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida suffered the most significant tree cover losses.<\/span><\/p>\n (Seattle PI)<\/span><\/p>\n This may seem like an enormous number, but it actually represents only a third of the country.<\/span><\/p>\n [visualizer id=”1746″]<\/span><\/p>\n As the deforestation graph from 2020 shows, only 25% of this area is an old-growth forest, and 8% are tree farms and plantations. In comparison, 67% of the area is secondary forest, according to the deforestation in the United States statistics.<\/span><\/p>\n (FAO, US Forest Service)<\/span><\/p>\n This means that the US has the fourth-largest forest estate in the world.<\/span><\/p>\n Alaska has the most substantial percent of tree cover with its boreal forests. At the same time, the east is rich in deciduous forests.<\/span><\/p>\n Moreover, the south abounds in pine plantations. According to the stats of deforestation for the United States, the western US region is plentiful in dry coniferous forests.<\/span><\/p>\n (Forest2Market)<\/span><\/p>\n Forestry is one of the most essential US employment sectors, with an average annual direct payroll of $55.4 billion.<\/span><\/p>\n When combined, direct, indirect, and induced impact of the US forestry and forestry-related businesses, they support 2.9 million total jobs. Their total payroll is estimated at $128.1 billion.<\/span><\/p>\n Canada may have the lowest deforestation levels, yet they\u2019re responsible for almost a third of the global primary forest loss.<\/span><\/p>\n (National Resources Canada)<\/span><\/p>\n Canada has the lowest rate of deforestation in the world. Their annual deforestation rate in 2010 was less than 0.02% and has been on a steady decline for more than 25 years.<\/span><\/p>\n From 1990 to 2014, Canada\u2019s deforestation declined from 63,100 hectares to 34,200 hectares.<\/span><\/p>\n (ThoughtCo.)<\/span><\/p>\n Deforestation rates by country show that Canada\u2019s deforestation rates are the lowest in the world. Still, they also reveal that Canada is responsible for the world\u2019s most significant primary forest loss.<\/span><\/p>\n The majority of Canada\u2019s forests grow back, but the rates of cutting the primary forests are still alarming.<\/span><\/p>\n (National Resources Canada)<\/span><\/p>\n Logging in Canada doesn’t lead to deforestation. Their laws require that every harvested tree on public land be reforested either by replanting or natural regeneration.<\/span><\/p>\nTop 10 Essential Deforestation Facts<\/b><\/h2>\n
\n
Global Statistics on Deforestation<\/b><\/h2>\n
1. The world lost 20 million acres of primary forest between 1990 and 2020.<\/b><\/h3>\n
2. Every second, a forest the size of a football field is lost, according to the deforestation statistics from 2021.<\/b><\/h3>\n
3. In 2019, the world lost more than 8.9 million acres of tropical rainforests.<\/b><\/h3>\n
4. Deforestation has decreased from 16 million to 10 million hectares a year, but the rates are still alarming.<\/b><\/h3>\n
5. Deforestation creates between $2 trillion and $4.5 trillion loss in biodiversity annually.<\/b><\/h3>\n
Deforestation Facts, Causes & Effects<\/b><\/h2>\n
6. Illegal logging accounts for 50% to 90% of deforestation in the Amazon, Central Africa, and Southeast Asia.<\/b><\/h3>\n
7. Palm oil deforestation facts reveal it has caused a severe decline in the orangutan population.<\/b><\/h3>\n
8. Some 80% of the tropical rainforests are destroyed due to agriculture.<\/b><\/h3>\n
9. By 2030, there may be only 10% of the rainforests left.<\/b><\/h3>\n
10. Deforestation is the leading cause of 15% of carbon emissions.<\/b><\/h3>\n
11. According to deforestation and climate change facts, Amazon’s carbon emissions rose by 9.6% in 2019.<\/b><\/h3>\n
The United States Deforestation Statistics<\/b><\/h2>\n
12. The US cities are losing 36 million trees every year.<\/b><\/h3>\n
13. Since the 1600s, the US has destroyed 75% of virgin forests.<\/b><\/h3>\n
14. The US has lost 40.3Mha of tree cover from 2001 to 2019.<\/b><\/h3>\n
15. Since 2010, the US has had 304,022,000 hectares of forested land.<\/b><\/h3>\n
16. It\u2019s estimated that 7.6% of the world\u2019s forests are in the United States.<\/b><\/h3>\n
17. The US forestry and forest product industry supports more than 1 million direct jobs.<\/b><\/h3>\n
Deforestation in Canada Facts<\/b><\/h2>\n
18. Canada accounts for 0.3% of global deforestation.<\/b><\/h3>\n
19. More than 20% of the world\u2019s primary forest loss occurred in Canada.<\/b><\/h3>\n
20. Approximately 94% of forests in Canada are on public land.<\/b><\/h3>\n
Deforestation Statistics and Facts for South America<\/b><\/h2>\n