There are 3,04 trillion trees on our planet. This number was much lower a few years ago with estimates then around 400 billion. With the advancement of new technology, a more accurate database has been achieved.
Furthermore, 73,300 unique species of trees have been identified so far, with a great deal more still waiting to be discovered.
There are around 9,000 tree species yet to be identified About 40% of the tree species that haven’t been discovered are in South America.
3.04 trillion trees would be the same as planting 422 trees per person on the planet.
Wow! a lot of trees
Where Are All the Trees?
The most common tree species in the world is the Pinus Palustris or Longleaf Pine. This species of pine tree can be found in North America, mainly in the southeastern United States. Other common species include the oak, spruce, and Fagus beech.
Nearly half of the world’s forests can be found in the five largest countries, which are Russia, Canada, Brazil, the United States of America, and China. However, almost two-thirds of the world’s forest cover comes from just ten countries, some of which are the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Indonesia, Australia, Peru, and India.
The world’s forests cover an estimated 3.9 billion hectares, making up around 31% of the world’s total land area. This is an impressive figure, but some countries are much better at conserving their forests than others. This is why it’s important to identify which countries have the most trees and land mass. Here is a list of the top 8 countries with the most trees and land mass
Russia | 642 Billion |
Canada | 318 Billion |
Brazil | 302 Billion |
USA | 228 Billion |
China | 140 Billion |
Democratic Republic of Congo | 101 Billion |
Indonesia | 81 Billion |
Australia | 77 Billion |
Rest of the World | 1990 Billion |
It’s important to note that the forest areas listed above are only estimates and do not include plantations, secondary forests, or other human-made forest types. The land area figures are the total land areas of each country, including all types of land, including forests, grasslands, deserts, and mountains. Russia is the clear leader in terms of total forest area, with 8,149,000 km2 of forest land.
This is more than double the amount of forest land found in Canada and Brazil, which are the next two countries on the list. The United States, China, and Australia follow in terms of total forest area, but all three countries have much smaller land areas than Russia. The Congo, Indonesia, India, and Peru all have substantial amounts of forest land, but their total land areas are much smaller than the other countries on the list. This means that they have a higher percentage of their land area covered by forests. For example, the Congo has a forest cover of 45.8%, while Canada and Brazil only have 34.5% and 56.2%, respectively.
Overall, it’s clear that the countries with the most trees and land mass are Russia, Canada, Brazil, the United States, China, Australia, the Congo, and Indonesia, These countries are home to some of the world’s largest and most important forests, and their conservation and protection is essential for the health of the global environment.
How we found out there are three trillion trees on Earth
According to a leading study in 2020, which was released in the journal Nature. NASA Scientists and Yale researchers used a combination of AI, machine learning, and supercomputers to count the estimated 3 trillion trees on Earth from space.
The data collected from satellites and aircraft is then used to create detailed maps showing the distribution of trees and species across different regions. This effort will provide us with the most accurate count to date and help scientists better understand how forests are changing over time.
How Many Trees Were There in The World Before Industrialization?
It is important to remember how many trees were present before human interference so that we can appreciate the importance of preserving forests around the world.
Before humans existed, the world was a much different place. Forests covered vast areas of land and estimates suggest that there were between 3 and 5 trillion trees in the world. This number is difficult to pinpoint as there have been significant changes to the environment since then due to anthropogenic activities. Trees provided vital resources such as food and shelter for animals, while also playing an essential role in regulating the climate by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and releasing oxygen
Large-scale farming began 12,000 years ago, there were more than double the amount trees on Earth some 7 trillion.
What does deforestation mean for the Planet?
Last year, we lost at least 42,000 square kilometers of tree cover from deforestation, which is about the size of Denmark.
The Amazon, the Congo, and southeast Asian tropical forests were hit particularly hard. Deforestation has had a huge impact on the Planet with an estimated 10 billion trees being cut down each year. This has caused an imbalance in our ecosystems, leading to a decrease in biodiversity and an increase in global temperatures. These forests help keep the world’s climate in check because they store carbon.
We need trees for many reasons, including the fact that they take in the carbon dioxide we breathe out and the heat-trapping greenhouse gases that people make. As more of these gases get into the air, global warming gets worse and contributes to climate change.