Some forests faring well.A surprising study from the National Academy of Sciences recently showed that a large and increasing number of countries are reversing the trend of forest destruction, the New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of Times reports. While forest degradation is serious and worsening in countries like Brazil and Indonesia, the study shows that, in the last 15 years, forests had expanded in 22 of the 50 most forested countries. Part of this results from countries becoming wealthier with fewer people living in rural areas and fewer trees removed for heating and building. More efficient agricultural practices have also led to reduced deforestation deforestation Process of clearing forests. Rates of deforestation are particularly high in the tropics, where the poor quality of the soil has led to the practice of routine clear-cutting to make new soil available for agricultural use. . The measuring of forests was based on new research tools that calculate the volume of the timber, amount of biomass, the density of forest areas, and the carbon capacity of trees. The majority of rich, more developed countries had more forest areas in 2005 than in 1990, most notably in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. and western Europe Western Europe The countries of western Europe, especially those that are allied with the United States and Canada in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (established 1949 and usually known as NATO). . Smaller countries like Vietnam and Turkey are reversing the deforestation trend, as are much larger countries like China and India. While the study is heartening heart·en tr.v. heart·ened, heart·en·ing, heart·ens To give strength, courage, or hope to; encourage. See Synonyms at encourage. Adj. 1. , additional research must be done into the quality and sustainability of newly forested areas. |
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