Deforestation · 2001–2025
Deforestation in the United States
Since 2001, the United States has lost about 126 million acres (51 million hectares) of forest (about 510,000 km²): 18% of the forest it had in 2000. Most of it was lost to logging, so much of it can grow back. About 9.87 million acres (4 million hectares) (7.8%) was deforestation: forest cleared for good for farms, mines or towns.
- Forest in 2000
- 689 million acres (279 million ha)
- Forest lost since 2001
- 126 million acres (51 million ha)18% of it, about 510,000 km²
- Cleared for good
- 9.87 million acres (4 million ha)deforestation, 7.8% of the loss
- Worst year
- 20046.77 million acres (2.74 million ha) lost
Map
Where the United States has lost forest
Every square kilometre of the United States as satellites saw it from 2000 to 2025. Yellow and green were forest; red to white marks where it has been lost since 2001, and when.
- Forest cover in 2000
- 0%25%50%75%100%How much of the land was forest: dark purple had little or none, yellow was dense forest.
- Year the forest was lost
- 200120132025Where forest was cut down, burned or cleared since 2001: red for the early years, through orange, to white for the most recent. Solid where a fifth or more of a place's forest went, fainter where 8% or more did.
- Cities
- The capital (the larger dot) and the biggest cities, to help you find your way.
Year by year
Forest lost in the United States, year by year
Forest loss has stayed about the same: about 4.35 million acres (1.76 million hectares) a year in 2021–2025, against 5.31 million acres (2.15 million hectares) a year in 2016–2020. The worst year was 2004, when about 6.77 million acres (2.74 million hectares) of forest were lost.
Acres of forest lost each year
Show the figures as a table
| Year | Cleared for good | Can grow back | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 439,000 acres (177,000 ha) | 4.36 million acres (1.76 million ha) | 4.8 million acres (1.94 million ha) |
| 2002 | 400,000 acres (162,000 ha) | 4.63 million acres (1.87 million ha) | 5.03 million acres (2.04 million ha) |
| 2003 | 352,000 acres (142,000 ha) | 3.72 million acres (1.51 million ha) | 4.07 million acres (1.65 million ha) |
| 2004 | 552,000 acres (223,000 ha) | 6.22 million acres (2.52 million ha) | 6.77 million acres (2.74 million ha) |
| 2005 | 574,000 acres (232,000 ha) | 6.06 million acres (2.45 million ha) | 6.64 million acres (2.69 million ha) |
| 2006 | 598,000 acres (242,000 ha) | 5.83 million acres (2.36 million ha) | 6.43 million acres (2.6 million ha) |
| 2007 | 584,000 acres (236,000 ha) | 5.42 million acres (2.19 million ha) | 6.01 million acres (2.43 million ha) |
| 2008 | 481,000 acres (195,000 ha) | 4.98 million acres (2.02 million ha) | 5.47 million acres (2.21 million ha) |
| 2009 | 366,000 acres (148,000 ha) | 3.61 million acres (1.46 million ha) | 3.97 million acres (1.61 million ha) |
| 2010 | 410,000 acres (166,000 ha) | 4.94 million acres (2 million ha) | 5.35 million acres (2.16 million ha) |
| 2011 | 384,000 acres (155,000 ha) | 3.72 million acres (1.51 million ha) | 4.11 million acres (1.66 million ha) |
| 2012 | 474,000 acres (192,000 ha) | 4.38 million acres (1.77 million ha) | 4.85 million acres (1.96 million ha) |
| 2013 | 295,000 acres (120,000 ha) | 4 million acres (1.62 million ha) | 4.29 million acres (1.74 million ha) |
| 2014 | 368,000 acres (149,000 ha) | 3.92 million acres (1.59 million ha) | 4.29 million acres (1.74 million ha) |
| 2015 | 325,000 acres (132,000 ha) | 5.33 million acres (2.16 million ha) | 5.65 million acres (2.29 million ha) |
| 2016 | 441,000 acres (179,000 ha) | 5.15 million acres (2.09 million ha) | 5.59 million acres (2.26 million ha) |
| 2017 | 460,000 acres (186,000 ha) | 5.24 million acres (2.12 million ha) | 5.7 million acres (2.31 million ha) |
| 2018 | 363,000 acres (147,000 ha) | 4.8 million acres (1.94 million ha) | 5.16 million acres (2.09 million ha) |
| 2019 | 322,000 acres (130,000 ha) | 4.89 million acres (1.98 million ha) | 5.21 million acres (2.11 million ha) |
| 2020 | 295,000 acres (119,000 ha) | 4.57 million acres (1.85 million ha) | 4.86 million acres (1.97 million ha) |
| 2021 | 282,000 acres (114,000 ha) | 4.77 million acres (1.93 million ha) | 5.06 million acres (2.05 million ha) |
| 2022 | 296,000 acres (120,000 ha) | 5.15 million acres (2.08 million ha) | 5.44 million acres (2.2 million ha) |
| 2023 | 270,000 acres (109,000 ha) | 3.14 million acres (1.27 million ha) | 3.41 million acres (1.38 million ha) |
| 2024 | 260,000 acres (105,000 ha) | 3.69 million acres (1.49 million ha) | 3.95 million acres (1.6 million ha) |
| 2025 | 283,000 acres (115,000 ha) | 3.61 million acres (1.46 million ha) | 3.89 million acres (1.57 million ha) |
The satellite method improved in 2011, so compare recent years with each other rather than with the 2000s. Hover over or tap a year for its figures.
Causes
What is causing deforestation in the United States?
- 7.8%cleared for good (deforestation)
- 91%can grow back (fire, logging, storms)
- 1.1%cause unknown
- Logging62% · 77.8 million acres (31.5 million ha)
Can grow back. Trees cut for timber or paper. The land usually stays forest and grows back.
- Wildfires28% · 34.9 million acres (14.1 million ha)
Can grow back. Forest burned. It often grows back, though fire is sometimes used to clear land for good.
- Farms, pasture and plantations3.9% · 4.9 million acres (1.98 million ha)
Cleared for good. Forest cleared for crops, cattle pasture or tree plantations: the biggest cause of deforestation in the world.
- Towns and roads3.3% · 4.17 million acres (1.69 million ha)
Cleared for good. Forest replaced by houses, buildings and roads.
- Storms, floods and other natural causes1.7% · 2.11 million acres (854,000 ha)
Can grow back. Trees killed by storms, floods, landslides, pests or disease.
- Unknown causes1.1% · 1.38 million acres (557,000 ha)
Cause unknown. The satellites saw the trees go, but not why.
Also, each under 1%: mining and energy.
Causes for 2025 are estimates, based on what caused forest loss in the same places up to 2024.
Is all forest loss deforestation?
No. When forest is cleared for farms, mines or towns, it is gone for good: that is deforestation. When it is logged or burned, it usually grows back. We count both as forest lost, but only the first as deforestation, so a country with a bad fire year isn't shown as clearing its forest for good.
States that lost the most
| State | Forest lost | Share of its forest | Cleared for good |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 16.6 million acres (6.7 million ha) | 14% | 47,400 acres (19,200 ha) |
| Georgia | 9.52 million acres (3.85 million ha) | 39% | 941,000 acres (381,000 ha) |
| Alabama | 8.78 million acres (3.55 million ha) | 39% | 422,000 acres (171,000 ha) |
| California | 7.73 million acres (3.13 million ha) | 32% | 347,000 acres (141,000 ha) |
| Mississippi | 6.82 million acres (2.76 million ha) | 36% | 343,000 acres (139,000 ha) |
| Oregon | 6.62 million acres (2.68 million ha) | 28% | 101,000 acres (40,700 ha) |
| Texas | 5.43 million acres (2.2 million ha) | 26% | 1.35 million acres (546,000 ha) |
| North Carolina | 5.43 million acres (2.2 million ha) | 27% | 657,000 acres (266,000 ha) |
| Florida | 5.39 million acres (2.18 million ha) | 30% | 955,000 acres (386,000 ha) |
| Louisiana | 5.35 million acres (2.16 million ha) | 34% | 278,000 acres (113,000 ha) |
| Arkansas | 5.25 million acres (2.12 million ha) | 28% | 417,000 acres (169,000 ha) |
| Washington | 5.18 million acres (2.1 million ha) | 24% | 229,000 acres (92,500 ha) |
Cities that lost the most forest around them
Forest lost within 10 km of each city centre since 2001.
| City | Forest lost | Share of its forest | Cleared for good |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Fulton | 16,200 acres (6,550 ha) | 26% | 10,600 acres (4,280 ha) |
| Tallahassee | 9,510 acres (3,850 ha) | 20% | 5,510 acres (2,230 ha) |
| Gainesville | 8,890 acres (3,600 ha) | 18% | 3,100 acres (1,260 ha) |
| Durham | 8,750 acres (3,540 ha) | 18% | 7,510 acres (3,040 ha) |
| Wilmington | 8,660 acres (3,500 ha) | 26% | 6,620 acres (2,680 ha) |
| Tyler | 8,640 acres (3,490 ha) | 24% | 5,870 acres (2,380 ha) |
| Tuscaloosa | 8,190 acres (3,310 ha) | 21% | 4,890 acres (1,980 ha) |
| Fayetteville | 8,180 acres (3,310 ha) | 25% | 3,470 acres (1,400 ha) |
| Santa Clarita | 7,770 acres (3,140 ha) | 67% | 71 acres (29 ha) |
| Cary | 7,650 acres (3,100 ha) | 18% | 7,410 acres (3,000 ha) |
Frequently asked
Questions about deforestation in the United States
How much forest has the United States lost since 2001?
Since 2001, the United States has lost about 126 million acres (51 million hectares) of forest (about 510,000 km²): 18% of the forest it had in 2000. Most of it was lost to logging, so much of it can grow back. About 9.87 million acres (4 million hectares) (7.8%) was deforestation: forest cleared for good for farms, mines or towns.
Is deforestation in the United States getting worse?
Forest loss has stayed about the same: about 4.35 million acres (1.76 million hectares) a year in 2021–2025, against 5.31 million acres (2.15 million hectares) a year in 2016–2020. These are five-year averages from 2011 on, the years the satellite maps were all made the same way.
What is causing deforestation in the United States?
The main causes of forest loss since 2001 are logging (62%), wildfires (28%), farms, pasture and plantations (3.9%). About 9.87 million acres (4 million hectares) was deforestation, meaning forest cleared for good for farms, mines or towns. Causes for 2025 are estimates, based on what caused forest loss in the same places up to 2024.
What was the worst year for forest loss in the United States?
The worst year was 2004, when about 6.77 million acres (2.74 million hectares) of forest were lost.
How is forest loss measured?
We use satellite maps from the University of Maryland (Hansen and colleagues) that show, for every 30 × 30 m patch of land on Earth, the year its trees were cut down, burned or died, from 2001 to 2025. We add up those patches in the United States, counting only places that were at least 30% covered by trees in 2000. The cause of each loss comes from a map made by the World Resources Institute and Google DeepMind. All figures are estimates.