When you work for a group like RAN, you get lots of questions about deforestation. Here’s a recent Q&A. “Statistics lie” you say? Commentary on our conclusions are welcome encouraged!
Where can I get hard facts on global deforestation?
The UN FAO State of the World’s Forests 2007 gives the most current comprehensive world view, but lacks much detail. The latest detailed look at global deforestation rates is available from the FAO’s Global Forest Resources Assessment 2005. An easy-to-navigate summary of key findings of the 2005 report is available at http://www.greenfacts.org/en/forests
note that the FAO defines forests as land with a tree canopy cover of more than 10 percent and an area of more than half a hectare. FAO says that “forest” includes natural forests and forest plantations<–monoculture tree farms that most would not recognize as “forests” in the traditional sense. So when you hear industry brag that the country has more forests than we did a decade ago, their claim relies on this designation.
How many trees are cut down each year? For what purpose?
- As for how many trees are cut down each year, the 2005 report concludes that primary forest area (as opposed to plantations)was reduced globally by 60,000 square kilometers per year (about the size of Ireland; see: http://www.greenfacts.org/en/forests/index.htm#2). Note that this data is incomplete due to a lack of available data from many countries who do not monitor such change. As to the “number of trees” this represents, it’s impossible to get an accurate count. Tree density in primary forests varies from 50,000-100,000 trees per square km, so the math would put this number at 3 billion to 6 billion trees per year.
- As for what purpose this logging is for, pg. 129 of the 2007 report provides statistics on global production and consumption of woodfuel (charcoal and other energy uses) roundwood (paper and other non-lumber products) and sawnwood (lumber). It estimates global production at 1.7 billion (46 percent) , 1.6 billion (43 percent) and 421 million (11 percent) cubic meters respectively with comparable volumes consumed globally.
How much is this industry worth? How much (in millions) goes to paper vs. construction?
- Incomplete data from the FAO’s 2005 report gives a global value of $64 billion to “wood forest products removals”–$57 billion of which is from industrial roundwood and its derivatives (lumber and paper; see http://www.greenfacts.org/en/forests/l-2/8-economic-social-benefits.htm#0)
- A recent report on illegal logging by The American Forest and Paper Association states that “The global value of 2002 total wood products trade (HTS Chapter 44) can be estimated at approximately $69 billion, based on data available through the Global Trade Information Service (GTIS). Pulp, Paper and Paperboard trade would add another $117 billion, bringing the total value of forest products trade to $186 billion” (link, page 6).
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i hate trees there sooooooo stupid cut them all down i already started its realy fun yeah XD
look i think alll u fkin’ greenies suld shut thaa hell up! u would be sooken wen ther is no wood for ur fires when the loggers stop loggin trees becos u greenies always have to get ur noses suck in evry thin pss offf!!!!!!!!!!!
ya thats true mad dog
ya mad dog your right i couldnt say better myself
Actually “mad dog” you’ll be pretty freaking upset when all the trees are gone and they don’t give off any oxogyn for you live. So shut up. You know, just because you don’t have anything to do with your life doesn’t mean it’s cool to diss nature you stupid brat. Oh and also, abreviating so no one can understand what you’re saying doesn’t make you look cool, it actually make you look like a retard. So do everybody a favor and shut up. :)
I agree with you starr:).mad dog you don’t make sense, you sound like a toddler who ate too much sugar. Same thing for you trees suck, you destructive weirdo. It too guts to stand up to losers like them starr:) so props on that.
True enough star..If humanity wants to continue to breath we should all help out by not destroying the essentials such as trees..if 3 billion trees a year are getting cut down and it takes roughly 50-100 years to re-grow a decent tree to maturity.. WE ARE ALL FUCKING SCREWED lol..peace out
There needs to be balance. So many people are confused they think that we should go back to being cavemen. And that was apart of human civilization. It is over now but i wont insult or put down those who at least try to make a difference. These people Act. Those of you who judge these so called “tree huggers” are dreamers and you know that in your everyday life you are subjected to the bland colorless expectations of your uncontrollable ways of living.
you all should respect the trees like starr said
If all the trees where cut down, we would all be dead and all life on earth would be dead if that happened
hey trees rule like star said i belive they should stop cutting them down
I deffinatly AGREE with Nana and Star , we need to save our tree’s so we will have clean air. The tree’s take away the carbon dioxide and other pollluted air. WE NEED OUR TREES. SAVE OUR TREES!
all you little tree huggers are so retarded if we didn’t cut down trees all of you will be living in caves right now so quit complaining…what are houses made of? wood which comes from trees..and where does paper comes from? trees….and money? trees…..so since you tree lovers love trees so much why dont you all go live in the woods with ur precious ”trees”
starr is soo right! all this bullshit about cutting trees is sshit man! no trees may = no homework,but it also equals no drawing, no oxygen and no animal habitats. in that case.. we all die! :P so if ur right, ull agree with me
;)
Listen OK people need trees its been proven that by 2012 over two hundreds species of animals will be extinct. A couple famous land marks will be gone forever and worse global warming will start up again. All because people are destroying and polluting the world. Do yourselves your kids and your grand kids a favor and go green..
i soo agreee gogreen so suck it oter fat guy
we invest money in cuting down trees when when we’re only just killing ourselfs
No matter what we will always have to cut down trees, but if anyone had any sense they would pass a law that all lumber companies should have to plant 2 saplings for every tree they take. This way everybody wins.
what court and starr said is all true but when it comes down to it nothing is changing like how would u get them to listen ? and people who say trees are gay are retarded you rlly should get a life or stop talking
Listen if we cut down the trees we will be next on the danger list.
really ?
I agree with starr, gogreen, Green Living, etc. I think that there should be a balance as Green Living said, for every tree they cut, they should plant more. That way we all win . . . I’m not really a green person but I do care and I think more people should too. I’m not saying they shouldn’t cut down trees anymore but they sould cut less or plant more, whatever works best. Trees are essential for life in both ways alive or cut down. The thing is just not to exceed and some people are doing it. I think trees are awsome . . . they really help! Just pay attention.
;)
look, i came on here for info. im doing a school project.
and then i see all youse fighting against eachother. this is stupid. and very childish i must say,
theres one point to this topic of argument.
**IF YOUR NOT HERE FOR THE ACTUAL PRUPOSE OF THIS WEBSITE KEEP YOUR OPITIONS TO YOURSELF.**
Cheers,
Jessica S.A
i know i came on here 4 a project too but then these ppl fighting iz stupid! get a life :p
people who comment negative things about caring for trees should be embarrassed like this “mad dog” talking before humanity like an uneducated human species. but let me tell you “mad dog” with vomit!!! like fuckin
attitude who don’t know anything except for fire wood, til your stupid firewood consumed all trees. could you still use your fire wood? i think no,cause your struggling to breath oxygen while setting fire on your stupid firewood producing more carbon dioxide killing you more. IF THAT EVER HAPPENS IT WILL BE MY PLEASURE SEEING YOU SUFFER. hahahahaha… ANY WAY YOU ARE TALKING TO A 12 YEAR OLD KID i mean almost 13 :P
I disagree with Anonamouse becuase u can replace materials to make wateva u want but u can’t replace anything that provides oxygen
we need to stop fighting and join togetheer to save the planet before there is nothing left u may no like trees but they acctually provide THE vital oxygen we need to breath so stop it with the fighting and SHUT UP IF U DONT HAVE ANYTHING NIDE TO SAY
Trees are extremely essential to humans as they release oxygen for humans to breathe, they supply a great home and food sourse for wildlife to establish on. On the other hand they make wood for humans to build houses and to make paper which are extremely useful. Humans cut down an estimated 3-6 billion trees a year, 60,000 square kilometres; about the size of ireland, OMG!!!. Humans should have a limit on the amount of trees they take, im neither a tree hater or tree lover im just saying we should have a balance, it takes a normal tree to grow to the average hight by about 30-50 years, so if we’re cutting trees down at this rate per year there will be nothing left in the future but if we dont cut them down were would we be living today, think about it.
im doing a project right know ..
honestly, i don’t think we should STOP cutting trees, BUTTTT!!! i defiantly think we should cut A LOT LESS! I am not trying to be a hater on trees, trust me i love’em(:
haha cross that alllll out, i just though about it, we could stop cutting trees, for books, there’s a thing called kindles or nooks, for drawing there are tablets, documents can be TYPED on word, and mad dog….have you ever heard of a heater before? HONESTLY…-__- we can stop killing our natural resources and use the best invention ever, COMPUTERS. But unfortunately there are stupid people like trees suck and mad dog in this world that are simply too ignorant to realize that if tree are all gone, we’ll be right behind them
uuhh.. Anonamouse not all houses are wood in fact i’m pretty sure most houses are stone. Mad dog – like Jocelyn said – heaters!! And trees suck (which they don’t) how can trees, which cant talk or think, be stupid?
logging should be contained in small areas, there should be a lot less logging and illegal loggers should be prosecuted.
u guys need therapy realy badly …
ya physcos
reality is only what your mind precieves it to be your freaking idiot. im all for going green but u guys are greenie little btches oh and SHUTU
hmmmmmmm… im not really much of a green freak, but i think its sad how much trees get cut down. Were cutting down trees WAY faster than the time they have to grow. Soon enough, we wont have any trees left. And that means no more oxygon! :(
There are also many other suitable things they can use to replace the need for trees. Such as logs for firewood. There are some artificial firewood logs now that are made of mesh and only about %30 of wood. That means less trees to cut down. Plus they burn better than actual wood.
but yah… those peoples just need to calm down with the tree cuttng.
sorry if i spelled alot of things wrong. im only a 5th grade, so cut me some slack >.<
Have you’ve ever wondered why society seems to be loosing our sense’s, our minds? Like were getting dumb ed down. The more trees that we cut down in huge numbers by day we are a reflection! So go ahead and pluck all the cells in our mothers brain. Its that simple people we are gods!
about 24 trees are cut to make a ton of paper
What about people that cut trees down just because their leaves or their seeds, or even their shade bother them? Not in forests, but just in your common neighborhood? And the ones that cut them just shred them into dust?
trees are our life, we must save them. stop cutting trees and start planting some more.
I think the people we really need to be concerned about are those individuals who cut down trees for personal gain who are not accounted for.
Look if you don’t like trees then don’t look at this fcking website you retards and keep your comments to yourself you pathetic twats. If you do like trees then stay on this website and comment all you like! Because us trees lovers, tree huggers or whatever you call us want to actually save humanity rather than destroy it!
this awful i love all animals and plants and so many habitats are destroyed and if this carries on the will be no tree which means no oxegan and no plants or animals :(
I appreciate how all of you are making known your views on this topic, but do try to use better grammar next time. Your current spelling and syntax is absolutely horrible!
from what everyone said i see some points in it… well most of your comments. we do need trees for we use them everyday but without planting any to replace it wouldn’t it be all gone. besides with out them we wouldn’t be alive. i know everyone has their own thoughts on this but please be more mature
and dont mind the haters their just trolling you
we just loved everything……………trees should be saved!!!!!!!!!!!!!trees are life…if u cut them u cut ur life-time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!……………
hey this is crp never sean adas
yo all of u are right so stop fightin
NONE OF YA
YALL SUCK