The U.S. could lose 34 million acres of forest by 2060

Do you like trees? I like trees. Trees are pretty interesting, right? And, if my fourth-grade science teacher is to be believed, they exhale oxygen, which is a nice complement to the way my lungs work. It is with regret, then, that I must inform you that trees are going away. Not all of them. Just 34 million acres of them across the United States.

That figure is the worst-case scenario according to the U.S. Forest Service’s forecast of how expanding residential and industrial areas will combine with climate change to wipe out an enormous amount of forested land.

Some key points (and graphs) from the report, “Future of America’s Forests and Rangelands” [PDF].

• Urban and developed land is expected to increase between 41 and 77 percent by 2060.

• Climate change also means declines in winter recreation, for obvious reasons.
• Land available for foraging will likely decrease, though timber availability should remain sufficient for demand.

Interestingly, lumber prices have increased 45 percent this year, due partly to the resurgence of the housing market.

More housing means more demand for lumber — and also, over the long-term, less forest area. Though we’ll have enough timber for the near future.

Because why wouldn’t we? Trees will be keeling over right and left. Chop ’em up, sell ’em off.

Sigh. You know what makes a nice gift for the holidays? Shel Silverstein’s The Giving Tree. Maybe get the ebook version.

Hat tip: Brian Merchant.