Global forest cover, 2000-2014. Animation of a global map showing annual tree cover extent, gain, and loss from the years 2000 to 2014. The colours show initial tree cover in 2000 (green), tree cover loss (red), tree cover gain (blue), and gain and loss together (purple) due to re-planting after loss has occurred. 'Tree cover' is defined as all vegetation greater than 5 metres in height, and may take the form of natural forests or plantations across a range of canopy densities. 'Loss' indicates the removal or death of tree cover and can be due to a variety of factors, including mechanical harvesting, fire, disease, or storm damage. Hence 'loss' is not directly equivalent to deforestation. |