The United States has witnessed a significant shift in its tree cover landscape over the past two decades. With an area of approximately 947 million hectares, the country's tree cover extent stands at around 279 million hectares. However, this green canopy has not been immune to change. Analysis of historical data reveals a net loss in tree cover, with a 1.23% decrease due to various factors, including shifting agriculture, forestry practices, wildfires, and urbanization.
Forestry activities have been the predominant driver of tree cover loss, followed by wildfires, which have become increasingly prevalent in recent years. Urban expansion has also contributed to the reduction of tree cover, reflecting the ongoing transformation of natural landscapes into developed areas. The net change in tree cover shows a loss of over 17 million hectares, with a gain of nearly 14 million hectares, leading to a net negative balance.
Explore country profileThe latest incident report from Oklahoma underscores the ongoing challenge of wildfires in the country, with a single fire alert recorded on September 11, 2024. This incident is a stark reminder of the persistent threat wildfires pose to the U.S. tree cover and the importance of addressing the underlying causes of these disturbances.
