Mapping tree density at a global scale

Crowther, T. W. and Glick, H. B. and Covey, K. R. and Bettigole, C. and Maynard, D. S. and Cho, Percival (2015) Mapping tree density at a global scale. Nature, 525 (7568). pp. 201-205. ISSN 0028-0836

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Abstract

The global extent and distribution of forest trees is central to our understanding of the terrestrial biosphere. We provide the first spatially continuous map of forest tree density at a global scale. This map reveals that the global number of trees is approximately 3.04 trillion, an order of magnitude higher than the previous estimate. Of these trees, approximately 1.30 trillion exist in tropical and subtropical forests, with 0.74 trillion in boreal regions and 0.66 trillion in temperate regions. Biome-level trends in tree density demonstrate the importance of climate and topography in controlling local tree densities at finer scales, as well as the overwhelming effect of humans across most of the world. Based on our projected tree densities, we estimate that over 15 billion trees are cut down each year, and the global number of trees has fallen by approximately 46% since the start of human civilization.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
Nature
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/1000
Subjects:
?? general ??
ID Code:
81272
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
23 Aug 2016 07:58
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
15 Jul 2024 16:19