Scientists have found half the world’s forests have been depleted since civilisation began.
WE know humanity has had a dire effect on Mother Nature.
From pollution to deforestation, the Earth is an increasingly poor shape.
But now an international team of scientists have discovered just how big an impact it has been.
A new study, published yesterday in the journal, Nature, has found the world’s forests have depleted by almost half since human civilisation began.
It estimates that there were more than six trillion trees however that figure now sits at around 3.04 trillion, 46 per cent less than when civilisation began.
The team, which is made up of researchers from all over the world, also discovered that around 15 billion trees are removed every year.
Using a new mapping technique they were able to measure more than 400,000 areas of tree density estimates from every continent except Antarctica to produce the most comprehensive global map of forest tree density to date.
Until now, policy-makers and scientists have relied on satellite images to provide estimates of global forest area.
But those techniques have been unable to address tree numbers, densities or timber stocks.
The study’s authors say this new techniques may boost understanding of the Earth’s system dynamics and facilitate environmental stewardship efforts.
Thomas Crowther and his colleagues have found broad-scale patterns in tree densities between biomes.
The study has also provided insights into the factors that may control tree density within an ecosystem.
It says tree density often increases with temperature and moisture availability across all ecosystem types.
It is also says the rate of tree loss was highest in tropical regions, but the scale and consistency of this across all forested ecosystems highlight how historical land-use decisions have shaped natural ecosystems on a global scale.
