Status of the Worlds’ Forests

Today, forests cover nearly 30 percent of the Earth’s land surface and grow on every continent except Antarctica. However, the world’s total forestland is slowly shrinking due to the conversion of forests to agricultural fields and housing. About one-third of the world’s forests are coniferous and nearly half of this total is in the former Soviet Union.

Large boreal forests temperate coniferous forests are found in Canada and Russia, while large temperate ciniferous forests grow in the southern United States, Southeast Asia and New Zealand. Deciduous forests grow throughout the world but are concentrated mostly in the temperate regions of North America, Europe and Asia. Large tropical forests are located near the equator in South America, Africa and Southeast Asia. The United States underwent a period of expansion and development from 1860 to 1910. During this time poor forest practices removed millions of acres of forestland and on effort was made to replant or regenerate the forest.