Seeing the forest and the trees, all 3 trillion of them

Submitted: The Two Sides Team September 7, 2015

Scientists discover that the world contains dramatically more trees than previously thought

A recent study by researchers at Yale University revealed that there are more than 3 trillion trees now growing on the planet, seven times more than scientists previously thought. Using a combination of satellite imagery, forest inventories, and supercomputer technologies, the international team of researchers was able to map tree populations worldwide at the square-kilometer level. Their results, published in the journal Nature, provide the most comprehensive assessment of tree populations ever produced and offer new insights into a class of organism that helps shape most terrestrial biomes.

It's not all good news though … the total number of trees has plummeted by roughly 46 percent since the start of human civilization. Another reason why our forest certification systems are so vital to our industry. Also, keep in mind that the main causes of deforestation in North America are urbanization, agriculture, commercial and industrial development (for example, oil and gas, hydro power).

Read full article in Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies.

To read more, the study was covered in many publications including The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and The Conversation.