First Spatially Continuous Map of Forest Tree Density: Biodiversity Implications

First Spatially Continuous Map of Forest Tree Density: Biodiversity Implications

Question : The first spatially continuous map of forest tree density suggested there are 3.04 trillion trees across the globe. Discuss the biodiversity implications of this map’s findings.

- Currently, data from the first spatially continuous map of forest tree density indicates there are 3.04 trillion trees across the globe

- Estimate of ratio of trees per person is 422:1

- This is higher than the previous estimate

- Number of trees cut down each year is around 15.3 billion

- This means that global forest cover loss is close to 192,000 square km per year

- Global number of trees has fallen by 56% since the commencement of human civilisation

- The study defined a tree as a plant with woody stems higher than 10 cm diameter in height

- Though tropical forests have largest number of trees, highest rate of tree loss has been witnessed here as compared to Boreal and Tundra regions

- In the northern latitudes, lack of moisture and low temperature allowed only coniferous tree species to abound

- Scientists have relied on satellite images to provide estimates of global forest area

- Forested area was found in regions considered bereft of them such as tundra, deserts and grasslands

- While warmth and water availability caused an increase in tree density, a negative correlation was discovered in many regions

- For instance, in the dry tropical forests and flooded grasslands, benefits of water availability did not contribute to increased tree density

- Forested land had been used for agriculture here

- Negative correlations between tree density and anthropogenic land use demonstrate how humans deal with natural forest ecosystems for space and usage

- The scale and consistency of the forest loss has been highest across all tropical forested ecosystems and shows how land use decisions have shaped biodiversity on an international scale

- Dense forests influence an array of biotic and abiotic processes and current data provides valuable inputs regarding ecological dynamics

- Data will also help in guiding reforestation and afforestation on local, regional, national and global scale

Facts and Stats

- The study was conducted using 4,30,000 ground sourced measurements of tree densities from different continents across the world with the exception of Antarctica

- Of the 3.04 trillion trees, study found tropical and sub-tropical forests had the highest number of trees at 1.39 trillion

- This is close to 43%

- The boreal regions were next with 0.74 trillion trees at 24.2%

- The temperate region stood at 0.61 trillion trees which is 21.8%