World Deforestation Map

The map is from the Millenium Ecosystem Assessment (source: http://images.wri.org/sdm-gene-02-deforestation.jpg), a study funded by the United Nations.

The map shows the areas in the world that have experienced changes in forest cover. The red regions of the map show a net loss of forest, the dark green regions show a net gain of forest, and the light green regions represent the current forest cover. The United States and western Europe have the highest increases in forest cover whereas less developed nations such as Brazil, many parts of Asia, and the Middle East show forest loss. It is interesting to note that a distinct line exists along the Alaskan and Canadian border. The Alaskan side shows a net gain in forest whereas the Canadian border shows no change. Due to this strictly political border, differences in forest regulation or restoration policies are most likely responsible. Curiously, the map does not define how a net gain of forest or net loss of forest was measured (averages over square kilometers). Another interesting part of the map was the exclusion of the time scale.