5.1 billion World population in 1989
6.2 billion Projected world population at the end of 2001 (updated)
240 million United States population in 1989
240 million Increase in world population every three years
Less than 10% Percentage of Planet Earth that remains in a wild state
14.72 billion acres Area of forested land worldwide in 1850
11.84 billion acres Area of forested land worldwide in 2000 (updated)
1 per 10 years Naturally-occurring rate of extinction
1 million Number of plant and animal species that scientists say will become extinct during the next 25 years due to human encroachment and habitat conversion
100. Daily number of extinction's in the next 25 years
26.5 million acres Area of annual global deforestation
50 acres Rate of current worldwide deforestation per minute!
50% Percentage of wood cut worldwide that is made into paper products (source: World Resources Institute)
12% Percentage of trees cut annually that are used for the curing of tobacco (source: World Bank)
10% Percentage of trees replanted globally
22% Percentage of damaged forests due to increased pollutants in the air and loss of nutrients in soil in Western Europe
20% Percentage of greenhouse gas emissions due to annual deforestation
Oregon & Pacific Northwest Forest Facts
62.1 million acres The size of Oregon
40 million acres The area of Ancient Forest that once blanketed the West Coast from Southern Alaska to Northern California
28.3 million acres Area of Oregon uncut forest land at the time of Lewis & Clark (1805)
27.2 million acres Area of current forested lands (mostly plantations) in Oregon
18.9 million acres Area of Oregon Ancient Forest in 1805 (scientists estimate that from 67-90% of original forest was in "old-growth" condition)
2.8 million acres Area of Northwest Ancient Forest scientists say remains
1.1 million acres Area of NW Ancient Forest left in ecologically viable stands (minimum 300 acres)
18 million acres Area of farmland in Oregon
1.3 million acres Area of Oregon forest lands owned by Weyerhaeuser Corp.
200,000 acres Area of Ancient Forest protected in Oregon in Wilderness Areas, National Parks, etc.
3.7 million acres Area of Oregon forest lands "granted" to railroads in 1900
10 million acres Area of Western public lands timber companies illegally gained in NW under the Timber & Stone Act of 1878
100,000 acres Area of second growth forests exported each year from NW
12,000 acres Area of Ancient Forest currently cut in Oregon & Washington each month!
6,400 acres Area of Ancient Forest currently cut in Oregon each month = 78,800 acres per year (87% old-growth)
6,400 acres Ten square miles
2,200+ acres Average area of forest government biologist say is required by a pair of Spotted Owls in Oregon
220 years Age trees are generally considered to be "old-growth" or Ancient Forest
1200 years Age that a Douglas Fir tree can live barring disturbances
400+ years Amount of time a fallen tree can take to decompose
80-120 years Age at which the Forest Service (USFS) plans to cut new plantations
4-6% Return on investment USFS plans to get in 80-120 years
5% of original Ancient Forest left in Oregon in ecologically viable stands
15% of Brazilian rainforest that has been cut down
15% of "old-growth" Timber Industry says remains in Northwest
20% of U.S. softwood sawtimber produced in Oregon
40% of forest lands in Oregon that are privately owned
60% of forest lands in Oregon that are managed by public agencies
1.25 million Total employment in Oregon in 1985
65,000 Employment in "old-growth" sector of timber industry in 1978
39,000 Employment in "old-growth' sector in 1987
62,000 Employment in Outdoor Recreation and Tourism in 1985 (source: State Employment Division, annual reports)
5. Number of workers used to process one million board feet of lumber in 1979
8. Number of workers used to process one million board feet of lumber in 1985
28% increase in cutting on National Forests from 1979-1989
15% decrease in employment in timber industry from 1979-1989
40% of routine over-cutting (cutting more than the forest can grow in replacement) on public lands annually
50% of trees that existed on this planet in 1949 that have since been cut
72% of nation's forestlands in private ownership
99% of private lands that have been cut (at least once)
97% of Spotted Owl nests that are found in cavities in "old-growth" trees
65+% of Americans that don't know that trees are cut by USFS
98% of timber cutting goal the USFS met in 1984
140% of road-building goal the USFS met in 1984
24% of trail-building goal the USFS met in 1984
34% of wildlife habitat improvement goal the USFS met in 1984
28% of soil and water improvement goal the USFS met in 1984
20% of annual rainfall that drops from needles collecting mist
Less than 2% of America's Native forest that remains uncut
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