Over the years, the shift in tree cover has not only been a result of human activities such as agriculture and urban expansion but also due to natural disturbances like wildfires, which alone have accounted for millions of hectares of tree cover loss. The net change in tree cover reflects both the losses and gains, with a disturbing trend of more trees being lost than gained, leading to a negative net change.
The data underscores the need for a broader discussion on sustainable land management and the importance of balancing developmental needs with environmental conservation to mitigate the loss of tree cover in the United States.
