The State of Forested Land in the 48 Contiguous States of the U.S.: An Overview
As of the most recent data available, approximately 33% of the 48 contiguous states of the U.S. is forested. This percentage has remained relatively stable over the past few decades, with some reports indicating a slight increase in forested land due to reforestation efforts and changes in land use practices. However, the trend in the U.S. forested area is complex, with localized increases and decreases depending on various environmental and economic factors.
Historical Forested Land Trend
In 1840, the U.S. had approximately 900 million acres of forest land. By 1910, this had dropped to under 700 million acres. Post-World War II, the trend started to reverse, with forested land increasing to over 700 million acres by the 21st century.
According to the latest research from the Department of Agriculture, the total forested land in the contiguous United States in 2012 (the most recent year of data) was 538.6 million acres, a little over three times the size of Texas or about 28% of all land. This marks a significant reduction from the 1982–2007 average of 560 million acres, but is the lowest level of forest-use land in the contiguous United States in the 70 years of data recorded. The reduction is largely due to the designation of 109 million acres as parks and wildlife areas, which is a little bit larger than the land area of California.
Geographical Variations in Forested Land
The increase in forested land has been more pronounced in certain regions, particularly in the Northeast and parts of the Midwest. These areas have seen growth in forest cover due to the reversion of former agricultural lands to forest. In contrast, other regions such as the Southeast and the West have faced challenges, with factors like urban development, wildfires, and pest infestations impacting forest land.
Persistent Trends in Forested Land
Despite the increase and decrease in forested land, the combined area of forest and parkland in the contiguous United States has been fairly consistent around 640 million acres over the last thirty to forty years. There was still a significant drop-off in forest/protected land between 2007 and 2012, as both urban areas and grass/pastureland increased in size. However, this drop-off was not as substantial as historic levels.
Reforestation Efforts and Future Prospects
Reforestation efforts have played a critical role in increasing forested land. Programs aimed at reforesting degraded lands and improving forest management practices are crucial for maintaining and enhancing the forested areas of the U.S. Going forward, continued support for sustainable forestry practices and conservation initiatives will be essential to protect and expand forested land.
Related Reading
Read more about how land is used in America with the article Here’s How America Uses Its Land.