2017.10.02; Deforestation: Where is the world losing the most trees?
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Deforestation: Where is the world losing the most trees?
Millions of trees are being lost every year as a result of deforestation - but which countries are most under threat from the loss of trees?
Credit:
Jami Tarris/Barcroft Media
By
Ashley Kirk
23 March 2016 • 4:55pm
Forest area (square km)
980
8.2m
The world has lost the equivalent of 1,000 football fields of forests per hour for the last 25 years, according to official figures.
Experts warn that deforestation is a major issue facing the world, with the planet's forests being depleted rapidly.
The decline of the world's forest area - Highcharts CloudThe decline of the world's forest areaMillion square kilometre19901995200020052010201539.754040.2540.540.754141.2541.51993● Forest area: 40.9
A recent study estimated that there are three trillion trees on Earth, following the International Day of Forests.
"We will not succeed in reducing the impact of climate change and promoting sustainable development if we do not preserve our forests"José Graziano da Silva, FAO Director-General
However, the planet has lost 1.3 million square kilometres of forests since 1990 - an area larger than South Africa, according to data published by the World Bank.
While the Middle East and North Africa had the largest percentage increase in forest area between 1990 and 2015, the Latin America and Caribbean and Sub-Saharan Africa regions lost the most - with one in ten square kilometres of forest being lost.
Which regions lost or gained forests? - Highcharts CloudWhich regions lost or gained forests?Percentage change in forest area, 1990-2015Middle East and North AfricaSouth AsiaEurope and Central AsiaEast Asia and PacificNorth AmericaLatin America and CaribbeanSub-Saharan Africa-15-10-505101520Latin America and Caribbean● Percentage change: -9.5
Latin America and the Caribbean saw the biggest total decrease in forest area, losing 970,000 square kilometres between 1990 and 2015.
This region has the world’s second largest share of forests, with about one quarter of the world’s total.
Russia, Brazil and Canada have the highest forest area of any country - unsurprising considering the land mass of these large countries.
The ten countries with the largest forest areas share two thirds of the world's trees, and would have to be involved in any attempt to combat deforestation.
The 10 countries that hold two thirds of the world's forests - Highcharts CloudThe 10 countries that hold two thirds of the world'sforestsLargest forest areas by country (2015, millions of square kilometers)RussiaBrazilCanadaUnited StatesChinaCongo (D.R.)AustraliaIndonesiaPeruIndia0M10M2.5M5M7.5MUnited States● Forest area: 3 100 950
By 2012, more than 14 per cent of the world’s land had been nationally protected
Latin America and the Caribbean region led this protection, with 21.2 per cent of its total land area being protected.
José Graziano da Silva, Food and Agriculture Organisation Director-General, has said: "Forests play a fundamental role in combating rural poverty, ensuring food security and providing people with livelihoods. And they deliver vital environmental services such as clean air and water, the conservation of biodiversity and combating climate change.
"The direction of change is positive, but we need to do better. We will not succeed in reducing the impact of climate change and promoting sustainable development if we do not preserve our forests and sustainably use the many resources they offer us".
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