Where are all the trees? Only a SHOCKING 3 trillion trees left in entire world

This number may seem large, but it is not a good number.

An alarming report has been released by researchers following a comprehensive assessment of global tree populations. The number of trees falling has reached an unprecedented rate and, unfortunately, the rate can still increase based on human population growth, according to Reuters.

MUNTINLUPA, PHILIPPINES (Catholic Online) - Research data -including that of satellite imagery and ground-based tree density- showed that we now have a little over three trillion trees.
This is not a good number.

Ecologist Thomas Crowther at the Yale University -and leader of the study published in the journal Nature- said that about 46 percent of trees have been lost since the start of human civilization. He added that for each year, "there is a gross loss of 15 billion trees and a net loss of 10 billion."

"There are currently fewer trees than at any point since the start of human civilization and this number is still falling at an alarming rate. If anything, the scale of these numbers just highlights the need to step up our efforts if we are going to begin to repair some of these effects on a global scale," warned Crowther.

He further explained that, historically, conversion of forest land for agricultural use has the biggest impact among other human activities. 

Crowther said the presence of trees is vital for survival. "Trees are some of the most prominent and important organisms on the planet. Trees provide a wide range of important ecosystem services for humans. They store water and nutrients, stabilize the soil, provide habitats for plants and animals, offset the impacts of climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide and they generate the oxygen that we need to breath."

The highest tree densities were recorded in the sub-Arctic regions of Russia, Scandinavia and North America. The largest forested areas were in the tropics and house 43 percent of the world's trees.

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