Forest cover

Forest cover in general refers to the relative (in percent) or absolute (in square kilometers/square miles) land area that is covered by forests or the forest canopy or open woodland.

Forest cover is one category of terrestrial land cover. Land cover is the observed physical features, both natural and manmade, that occupy the earth’s immediate surface ... forest cover is defined as 25% or greater canopy closure at the Landsat pixel scale (30-m × 30-m spatial resolution) for trees >5 m in height

Global forest cover, however crucial for soil health, the water cycle, climate and air quality it is, is severely threatened by deforestation everywhere, as a direct consequence of agriculture, logging, and mining all of which can be attributed to human overpopulation. Forest cover can be increased by reforestation and afforestation efforts, but loss of old-growth forests is irreversibel in terms of its ecological services.

Global forest cover has been estimated to be 30% or 40 million square kilometres (4.3×10¹⁴ sq ft) in 2006 with 12-yearly losses (2000-2012) amounting to 2.3 million square kilometres (2.5×10¹³ sq ft) and reforestation gains about 0.8 million square kilometres (8.6×10¹² sq ft).

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