The United States has witnessed a concerning rise in wildfire incidents, with the latest alert reported in Hawaii on January 1, 2025. Over the years, the country's vast forested areas have experienced significant changes. With an overall area of approximately 947 million hectares, the U.S. boasts a tree cover extent of around 279 million hectares. However, the nation has faced a net loss in tree cover. Since 2001, the U.S. has seen a net decrease in tree cover of approximately 3.50 million hectares, which represents a 1.23% decline.
Forestry activities have been the primary driver of tree cover loss, followed by wildfires and urbanization. Shifting agriculture, although contributing to the loss, has had a relatively minor impact. The total tree cover loss over the years amounts to over 17 million hectares, while tree cover gain is about 14 million hectares, indicating a persistent challenge in maintaining forest stability.
Explore country profileThe impact of wildfires has been notably significant, with millions of hectares affected and substantial emissions of CO2 equivalent into the atmosphere. The data underscores the need for continued attention to forest management and conservation efforts to mitigate these losses and preserve the ecological balance.
