Find the Leading and Worst Nations on Forest Growth/Loss Rankings Since 2001
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From Barren to Thriving: Top Countries Leading the Forest Growth Charge (2001-2024)
The headlines are often dominated by deforestation, biodiversity loss, and the looming threat of climate change. But amidst the doom and gloom, a positive trend is quietly taking root: forest growth. Here's a look at the countries leading the charge in expanding their green cover since 2001, along with insights into the reasons behind both forest growth and deforestation.
The Green Giants: Who's Topping the Charts?
According to [1], China emerges as the undisputed champion of forest growth. Since 2001, the country has added a staggering 425,000 square kilometers of forest, an area nearly the size of Sweden! This impressive feat is attributed to a multi-pronged approach, including large-scale tree-planting initiatives, stricter regulations on logging, and economic incentives for sustainable forestry practices.
China isn't alone in this green revolution. Several other countries boast impressive forest growth rates relative to their total land area:
Why the Big Push for More Trees?
Forests are the lungs of our planet, playing a vital role in:
In 2010, the world had 3.92 Gha of tree cover, extending over 30% of its land area. In 2023, it lost 28.3 Mha of tree cover.A Path Forward: Balancing Growth and Conservation
Discover dynamic charts and maps showcasing essential data on worldwide forests. Customize and download statistics and rankings on forest change, extent, and deforestation drivers for convenient offline access.
Top 10 countries for global tree cover loss, 2001-2023
This compilation highlights key countries for forest conservation due to their significant tree cover loss on a global scale. It is common for countries with abundant forests to also experience high levels of tree cover loss. However, not all tree cover loss signifies deforestation, as some losses are temporary and can be attributed to activities like commercial forestry. This list offers insights into the factors driving tree cover loss in each country, including the proportion of loss that is likely permanent. Countries with a substantial permanent loss may require immediate attention to combat deforestation, while those with temporary losses may benefit from sustainable forest management initiatives.
The Top 10 Countries for Humid Tropical Primary Forest Loss from 2002 to 2023
This compilation provides an overview of the tropical nations that have experienced significant loss in the area of humid tropical primary forests. These forests, which are crucial for biodiversity and carbon storage, include mature rainforests that have been subject to deforestation, such as the conversion of forested areas into pasture or agricultural land, as well as certain forms of forest degradation caused by factors like understory forest fires. It is important to note that even instances of forest degradation are highly concerning, as primary forests can take several decades or even centuries to fully recover. Therefore, this list highlights the countries that play a vital role in the conservation of humid tropical forests.
Tropical Forest Loss Drops Steeply in Brazil and Colombia, but High Rates Persist Overall
Between the years 2022 and 2023, Brazil and Colombia witnessed a significant decline in primary forest loss, with a decrease of 36% and 49% respectively. However, despite these noteworthy reductions, the rate of tropical primary forest loss in 2023 remained stubbornly consistent with previous years, as indicated by the latest data from the University of Maryland's GLAD lab, which is accessible on WRI's Global Forest Watch platform.
The shifting frontiers of forest loss reveal a disparity in political will among different countries. While Brazil and Colombia demonstrated their commitment to reducing forest loss, Bolivia, Laos, and Nicaragua experienced sharp increases in forest loss. Other countries also saw more modest increases.
In 2023, the total tropical primary forest loss amounted to 3.7 million hectares, which is equivalent to losing nearly 10 football (soccer) fields of forest every minute. Although this represents a 9% decrease from 2022, the rate in 2023 closely mirrored that of 2019 and 2021. The cumulative forest loss resulted in the emission of 2.4 gigatonnes (Gt) of carbon dioxide, which is approximately half of the annual fossil fuel emissions of the United States.
From 2002 to 2023, there was a total of 76.3 Mha humid primary forest lost globally, making up 16% of its total tree cover loss in the same time period. Total area of humid primary forest decreased globally by 7.4% in this time period.The positive examples of China, Vietnam, and others demonstrate that reversing deforestation and promoting forest growth is achievable.
GLOBAL ANNUAL TREE COVER LOSS
From 2001 to 2023, there was a total of 488 Mha of tree cover loss globally, equivalent to a 12% decrease in tree cover since 2000 and 207 Gt of CO? emissions.
GLOBAL ANNUAL TREE COVER LOSS BY DOMINANT DRIVER
Globally from 2001 to 2023, 22% of tree cover loss occurred in areas where the dominant drivers of loss resulted in deforestation.
COMPONENTS OF NET CHANGE IN TREE COVER GLOBALLY
From 2000 to 2020, the world experienced a net change of -101 Mha (-2.4%) in tree cover.
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GLOBAL LOCATION OF TREE COVER
Globally as of 2010, the top 5 countries represent 55% of all tree cover. Russia had the most tree cover at 755 Mha compared to an average of 16.9 Mha.
GLOBAL ANNUAL TREE COVER LOSS FROM FIRES
From 2001 to 2023, there was a total of 138 Mha tree cover lost from fires globally and 350 Mha from all other drivers of loss. The year with the most tree cover loss due to fires during this period was 2023 with 11.9 Mha lost to fires — 42% of all tree cover loss for that year.
GLOBAL TREE COVER LOSS
From 2001 to 2023, Russia had the highest relative tree cover loss in the world, eqivalent to a loss of 83.7 Mha, which represents 11% of the tree cover in the year 2000.
GLOBAL FOREST-RELATED GREENHOUSE GAS FLUXES
Between 2001 and 2023, global forests emitted 9.01 GtCO?e/year, and removed -14.5 GtCO?e/year. This represents a net carbon sink of -5.48 GtCO?e/year.
GLOBAL ABOVEGROUND LIVE WOODY BIOMASS
Around 49% of the world’s total biomass is contained in the top 5 countries.
GLOBAL SOIL ORGANIC CARBON
Around 62% of the world’s total carbon storage is contained in the top 5 countries.
Here's what's needed to move forward:
Reforesters worldwide have been gaining valuable insights from their past mistakes. A prime example is China, where the Great Green Wall program, launched in 1978, sparked immense enthusiasm. The ambitious objective was to reforest an area the size of Germany, equivalent to 35 million hectares, in order to combat the sandstorms originating from the Gobi Desert. However, within a span of 25 years, the majority of the trees had perished. Hou Yuanzhou, a forestry expert, explained in a 2014 interview with China Dialogue, "They lacked the necessary knowledge. No one knew how to effectively establish a shelterbelt, and even if they did, their advice fell on deaf ears."
The trees, predominantly fast-growing poplars, were plagued by Asian long-horn beetles that thrived on their tender pulp. Despite significant losses, with up to half of the planted trees succumbing, the project persisted. Nonetheless, there were some achievements. Since 1978, China's forest coverage has officially risen from 12% to nearly 22%, positioning the country as a global leader in transforming barren land into lush forests. However, with greater knowledge and long-term planning, the benefits could have been even more substantial, including enhanced sandstorm prevention, carbon sequestration, and habitat preservation.
Presently, China is committed to rectifying past mistakes through initiatives like the Millennium Forest project, which has received President Xi Jinping's endorsement. This project aims to encompass over 100 tree species and cover 40% of the Xiong'an New Area near Beijing by 2035. Such biodiverse forests have the capacity to store 32 tons of carbon per hectare, nearly three times the amount stored by monoculture stands. Remarkably, China alone has contributed to 25% of the global increase in leaf area since 2000, despite occupying only 6.6% of the world's vegetated land. Approximately half of this increase is attributed to the expansion of forests, while a third is due to the expansion of cropland.
Concluding Thoughts
The battle for our forests is far from over. While the news of significant forest growth in some countries is encouraging, addressing deforestation remains a global challenge. By working together, with strong governance, community engagement, and technological innovation, we can shift the narrative towards a future where our forests continue to thrive, ensuring a healthier planet for generations to come. The Asian countries in particular are showing more responsibility on Forest conservation and growth as compared to the North and South American countries. Its time all nations need to come together and pledge for the betterment of our current and future generations to come and find more advanced ways to ontrol Forest loss particularly due to Fire.
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