There are approximately three trillion trees in the world, according to density estimates of every continent except Antarctica, a number much larger than previous estimates of just over 400 billion trees. However their research also estimates that humans have cut down 46 per cent of the world’s trees since the beginning of human civilization.
The researchers believe this global model could help scientists to better visualize habitat characteristics to estimate which animals, and how many, can live in certain areas. The team used over 400,000 tree density estimates and produced global maps of of forest tree density.
Original research paper published in Nature on September 2, 2015.
Names and affiliations of selected author
Thomas Crowther, School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.A.
