https://www.goodgoodgood.co/articles/the-world-has-more-trees-than-it-did-35-years-ago [ ][Go] Climate Change COVID-19 Mental Health Racial Justice SearchTikTokPinterestTwitterInstagramFacebook Login Good Good GoodGood Good Good Good News Animals Businesses Doing Good COVID-19 Creativity Environment Faith Governments Doing Good Health Human Rights LGBTQ+ Mental Health People Doing Good Racial Justice Refugees Tech & Innovation War & Conflict Today's Good News >> Take ActionPodcastNewspaperSearchSubscribe The World Has More Trees Than It Did 35 Years Ago Published: August 23, 2021 Updated: January 12, 2022 View of tree from below More trees now than ever This might come as a surprise: Worldwide tree cover has grown -- not shrunk! Worldwide tree cover has grown by 2.24 million square kilometers -- the size of Texas and Alaska combined -- in the last 35 years, according to a paper in the science journal "Nature." The World Has More Trees Than Ever Photograph by Chelsea Bock By analyzing satellite data, researchers from the University of Maryland assessed agricultural expansion, climate-driven expansion and contraction of ecosystems, and forest clearing and recovery. Ultimately the study found that tree cover loss in the tropics was dominated by tree cover gain in other regions, driven by agricultural abandonment in parts of Europe, Asia, and North America, rising temperatures allowing forests to grow closer to the north and south poles, and a massive tree-planting program in China. Good News: More Trees Now Than Ever Illustration by Carra Sykes for the Goodnewspaper Sadly, the research also confirms a large-scale loss of our planet's most biodiverse ecosystems, particularly in the tropical rainforests. Researchers concluded that 60 percent of all change during the study period were associated with human activity. While Earth might have more trees than it did 35 years ago, we can't allow this to mask the reality that some of our planet's most productive and biodiverse biomes have been damaged, degraded, and destroyed at our own hands. Replacing natural landscapes with crops or bare land reduces nature's capacity for sustaining complex ecosystems. To reduce your impact on deforestation, reduce, reuse, and recycle (in that order), reduce your meat intake, and demand action from politicians to protect our forests so we can enjoy and sustain a green planet for years to come. What country has the most trees? Russia leads the world when it comes to total amount of tree cover, according to a 2020 report from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. It's followed closely by Brazil, Canada, and the United States. Global Distribution of Forests by Forest Area, 2020 Country Forest Area Percent of World's (Hectares) Forests Russia 815,000,000 20.1% Brazil 497,000,000 12.2% Canada 347,000,000 8.5% United States 310,000,000 7.6% China 220,000,000 5.4% Australia 134,000,000 3.3% Democratic Republic of the Congo 126,000,000 3.1% Indonesia 92,000,000 2.3% Peru 72,000,000 1.8% India 72,000,000 1.8% Rest of the World 1,375,000,000 33.9% A version of this story originally ran in Issue 04 of the Goodnewspaper in May 2018. The Goodnewspaper is our monthly print newspaper filled with good news. You can join thousands of subscribers who get access to more exclusive stories like these, our private community space, a free inspiring poster, and so much more. Become a subscriber today. Worldwide tree cover has grown -- not shrunk! By Kailey Thompson Environment Support Good News Real Good News in Real Life - Subscribe Article Details Published On August 23, 2021 Updated On January 12, 2022 Contributors Kailey Thompson Categories Environment Tags Good Tree News Three eco-friendly products: Reusable paper towels, zero-waste toothpaste, and reusable stasher bags 29 Best Eco-friendly Products for Every Room in the House We know we're going to buy things -- so why not vote with our dollar by only choosing to purchase products that are good for the planet. Photo collage of wave-riding generators, a man, fresh produce, dolphins, and a hydrogen-powered train Wave Power, Dolphins, & Fresh Produce - Good News This Week: September 10th 2022 Your weekly roundup of the best good news worth celebrating... Ecosia.org's homepage on a green background Ecosia Review: Is It Legit? How Can It Plant Trees For Free? We break down how Ecosia works, whether or not it's legit, if using it actually plants trees, and what you can use instead if you're so inclined. Plus, some good news! Tree Quote Graphic: The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit. -- Nelson Henderson The 76 Absolute Best Quotes About Trees This week we've compiled the most meaningful quotes about trees, forests, and environmentalism from folks who care greatly about protecting the Earth. Their words are powerful reminders of our responsibility to our planet. Want to stay up-to-date on positive news? Daily email. Every morning. Filled with the day's best good news. [ ] [Get Good News] Thank you for joining the Goodnewsletter! Good news is coming your way! Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form. Please try again. 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