GoKawiilUniversity of Maryland study finds global tree cover grew by 2.24 million sq km since 1982
A satellite-based analysis led by Xiao-Peng Song and Matthew Hansen at the University of Maryland found that global tree cover increased by roughly 2.24 million square kilometers, an area comparable to Texas and Alaska combined, between 1982 and 2016. The gains, concentrated in temperate, boreal, and subtropical zones, offset major losses in tropical forests caused by deforestation, fire, and drought.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The findings complicate a simple narrative of global forest decline, showing that agricultural abandonment, warming-driven poleward forest expansion, and large reforestation efforts like China's tree-planting programs are reshaping land cover worldwide. However, the data also reaffirm that biodiversity-rich tropical forests are shrinking, meaning overall tree area growth does not equate to ecological health or carbon storage equivalence.
- Global tree cover rose by 2.24 million sq km from 1982-2016, despite tropical losses.
- Gains are driven by farmland abandonment, warming climates, and reforestation programs like China's.
- Tropical forest loss remains a major concern due to its outsized biodiversity value.
National Geographic Atlas of the World — If satellite-scale stories about shifting forests, deserts and farmland fascinate you, this atlas puts those global land-cover changes in your hands with detailed maps of vegetation, climate and human settlement. It's a great companion for tracing where tropical forests and boreal tree cover sit on the map.
See National Geographic Atlas of the World on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: psmag.com — Rhett A. Butler, 2026-08-23
Published there as: “The Planet Now Has More Trees Than It Did 35 Years Ago (2018)”
Read the original report → The summary and analysis above are GoKawiil's own, written from reporting by the source above. Facts and quotes belong to the original publisher.