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Explore the state of forests in United States by analyzing tree cover change on GFW’s interactive global forest map using satellite data. Learn about deforestation rates and other land use practices, forest fires, forest communities, biodiversity and much more.
Explore interactive charts and maps that summarize key statistics about forests in United States. Statistics – including rates of forest change, forest extent, drivers of deforestation, and deforestation and fire alerts – can be customized, easily shared and downloaded for offline use.
The United States of America has impressive forests — more than 800 million acres of natural and planted forests and woodlands — providing clean water, clean air, wildlife and fish habitat, recreational opportunities, and resources for economic development.
Woodlands and forestlands are composed of an overstory of tree canopy and an understory that is divided into shrub and forb layers. These plant communities occur in many diverse regions. They function as wildlife habitat, modulators of hydrologic flow, and protectors of soil.
- Overview
- Top Climate Impacts on Forests
- Forests and The Economy
- Environmental Justice and Equity
- What We Can Do
Forests and woodlands cover more than 822 million acres of land in the United States—about 36% of the country’s total land.1 There are many types of forests, including tropical forests, pine forests, and deciduous forests, with trees that shed their leaves annually. Forests are found on coasts, in wetlands, in dry inland regions, in areas with cold...
Climate change may affect forests at both local and regional scales. The impacts can vary even within a single forest. Three key impacts are described in this section.
Every day, Americans use a wide array of forest products including paper and packaging materials, lumber, and construction materials.24 The forest-products industry employs over 900,000 people in the United States.25 It also generates over $190 billion a year in sales and makes up about 4.5% of the total U.S. manufacturing gross domestic product.26...
Certain communities may be more affected by climate change impacts on forests than others. For example, some Indigenous peoples rely on forests for medicine, food, or ceremonial practices.28 If they cannot access these resources, their diet, mental health, and cultural identity may be impacted.29,30 Tribes in remote or rural areas may already lack ...
We can reduce climate change’s impacts on forests and improve the resiliency of forested areas in many ways, including the following: 1. Adopt climate-smart forestry practices. Forest owners and managers can use strategic forest management options, such as removing wildfire fuel, thinning trees, or managing controlled burns, to address the specific...
May 24, 2023 · The United States also boasts 187 million acres of other forest types, including woodlands, scrub forests, and urban forests. Unfortunately, the United States faces deforestation at significant rates: In 2021 alone, it lost 4.22 million acres of forest, equivalent to 775 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.
Since the end of the last ice age — 10,000 years ago — the world has lost one-third of its forests. 2 Two billion hectares of forest — an area twice the size of the United States — has been cleared to grow crops, raise livestock, and for use as fuelwood. Previously, we looked at this change in global forests over the long run.
People also ask
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