{"id":114123,"date":"2024-05-24T13:48:16","date_gmt":"2024-05-24T16:48:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/?p=114123"},"modified":"2024-06-25T13:48:24","modified_gmt":"2024-06-25T16:48:24","slug":"counties-tree-cover-loss","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/studies\/counties-tree-cover-loss\/","title":{"rendered":"Counties Going Bald: Tree Cover Loss Over 20 Years"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Which U.S. counties have lost the most tree canopy coverage?<\/p>    <p>To mark June as Great Outdoors Month, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/\">LawnStarter<\/a> ranked Counties Going Bald: Tree Cover Loss Over 20 Years.<\/p>    <p>We compared over 3,100 U.S. counties based on the net percentage and net change in tree cover (in kilo hectares) between 2000 and 2020 using data from Global Forest Watch.<\/p>    <p><strong>1 kilo hectare (kha) = 2,471 acres<\/strong><\/p>    <p>Get lost in the woods of our ranking below. To learn how we ranked the counties, see our <a href=\"#methodology\">methodology<\/a>.<\/p>    <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a><\/a>Contents<\/h2>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><a href=\"#rankings\">County Rankings<\/a><\/li>    <li><a href=\"#top-5\">Top 5 Close Up<\/a><\/li>    <li><a href=\"#key-insights\">Key Insights<\/a><\/li>    <li><a href=\"#ask-the-experts\">Ask the Experts<\/a><\/li>    <li><a href=\"#methodology\">Methodology<\/a><\/li>    <li><a href=\"#final-thoughts\">Final Thoughts: What\u2019s Causing the Nation\u2019s Canopies to Recede?<\/a><\/li> <\/ul>   <p><a class=\"js-anchor\" id=\"rankings\"><\/a><\/p>   <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">County Rankings<\/h2>    <p>See how each county fared in our ranking:<\/p>   <div class=\"infogram-embed\" data-id=\"e5cc054d-2529-4ad7-b907-cf065decb5a1\" data-type=\"interactive\"><\/div><script>!function(e,t,s,i){var n=\"InfogramEmbeds\",o=e.getElementsByTagName(\"script\"),d=o[0],r=\/^http:\/.test(e.location)?\"http:\":\"https:\";if(\/^\\\/{2}\/.test(i)&&(i=r+i),window[n]&&window[n].initialized)window[n].process&&window[n].process();else if(!e.getElementById(s)){var a=e.createElement(\"script\");a.async=1,a.id=s,a.src=i,d.parentNode.insertBefore(a,d)}}(document,0,\"infogram-async\",\"\/\/e.infogram.com\/js\/dist\/embed-loader-min.js\");<\/script>   <p><iframe title=\"Counties Going Bald - Tree Cover Loss Over 20 Years\" aria-label=\"Map\" id=\"datawrapper-chart-fzR95\" src=\"https:\/\/datawrapper.dwcdn.net\/fzR95\/2\/\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" style=\"width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;\" height=\"574\" data-external=\"1\"><\/iframe><script type=\"text\/javascript\">!function(){\"use strict\";window.addEventListener(\"message\",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data[\"datawrapper-height\"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll(\"iframe\");for(var t in a.data[\"datawrapper-height\"])for(var r=0;r<e.length;r++)if(e[r].contentWindow===a.source){var i=a.data[\"datawrapper-height\"][t]+\"px\";e[r].style.height=i}}}))}();\n<\/script><\/p>   <p><a class=\"js-anchor\" id=\"top-5\"><\/a><\/p>   <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Top 5 Close Up<\/h2>    <p>Check out the slideshow below for a closer look at each of our 5 counties with the highest rates of tree cover loss between 2000 and 2020.<\/p>   <div style=\"min-height: 535px;; \" class=\"ub_image_slider swiper-container wp-block-ub-image-slider\" id=\"ub_image_slider_930e17f7-82b4-47c5-97cc-f101f93e70b1\" data-swiper-data='{\"speed\":300,\"spaceBetween\":20,\"slidesPerView\":1,\"loop\":true,\"pagination\":{\"el\": \".swiper-pagination\" , \"type\": \"bullets\", \"clickable\":true},\"navigation\": {\"nextEl\": \".swiper-button-next\", \"prevEl\": \".swiper-button-prev\"}, \"keyboard\": { \"enabled\": true }, \"effect\": \"slide\",\"simulateTouch\":false}'>             <div class=\"swiper-wrapper\"><figure class=\"swiper-slide\">                 <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Yukon-Koyukuk-Census-Area-Alaska-1.png\" alt=\"People snowmobile through the woods in Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska\" style=\"height: 500px;; \">                 <figcaption class=\"ub_image_slider_image_caption\"><strong>No. 1: <\/strong>Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska | <strong>Overall Score: <\/strong>98.39<br><br><strong>Net Percentage Change in Tree Cover (2000-2020): <\/strong>-10% | Rank: 142<br><strong>Net Change in Tree Cover (2000-2020): <\/strong>-1,690 kilo hectares | Rank: 1<br><br>Photo Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/arcticwarrior\/23757019415\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Arctic Warrior<\/a> \/ Flickr \/ <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/publicdomain\/mark\/1.0\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Public Domain<\/a><\/figcaption>             <\/figure><figure class=\"swiper-slide\">                 <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Fairbanks-North-Star-Borough-Alaska-1.png\" alt=\"A snowy forest and mountains in Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska\" style=\"height: 500px;; \">                 <figcaption class=\"ub_image_slider_image_caption\"><strong>No. 2: <\/strong>Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska | <strong>Overall Score: <\/strong>33.56<br><br><strong>Net Percentage Change in Tree Cover (2000-2020): <\/strong>-9.7% | Rank: 156<br><strong>Net Change in Tree Cover (2000-2020): <\/strong>-128 kilo hectares | Rank: 2<br><br>Photo Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pexels.com\/photo\/trees-on-snow-covered-ground-14371425\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Leon Huang<\/a> \/ Pexels \/ <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pexels.com\/license\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pexels License<\/a><\/figcaption>             <\/figure><figure class=\"swiper-slide\">                 <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Southeast-Fairbanks-Census-Area-Alaska-1.png\" alt=\"A bright green forest in Southeast Fairbanks Census Area, Alaska with snowy mountains in the distance\" style=\"height: 500px;; \">                 <figcaption class=\"ub_image_slider_image_caption\"><strong>No. 3: <\/strong>Southeast Fairbanks Census Area, Alaska | <strong>Overall Score: <\/strong>33.38<br><br><strong>Net Percentage Change in Tree Cover (2000-2020): <\/strong>-4.3% | Rank: 415<br><strong>Net Change in Tree Cover (2000-2020): <\/strong>-126 kilo hectares | Rank: 3<br><br>Photo Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/alaskadrones\/49688155111\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Mike\u2019s Alaska Travels<\/a> \/ Flickr \/ <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nd\/2.0\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CC BY-ND 2.0<\/a><\/figcaption>             <\/figure><figure class=\"swiper-slide\">                 <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/AdobeStock_291843380-1.png\" alt=\"A river splits between two dense forests in Idaho County, Idaho\" style=\"height: 500px;; \">                 <figcaption class=\"ub_image_slider_image_caption\"><strong>No. 4: <\/strong>Idaho County, Idaho | <strong>Overall Score: <\/strong>32.92<br><br><strong>Net Percentage Change in Tree Cover (2000-2020): <\/strong>-6.7% | Rank: 255<br><strong>Net Change in Tree Cover (2000-2020): <\/strong>-114 kilo hectares | Rank: 4<br><br>Photo Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/stock.adobe.com\/search?filters%5Bcontent_type%3Aphoto%5D=1&amp;filters%5Bcontent_type%3Aillustration%5D=1&amp;filters%5Bcontent_type%3Azip_vector%5D=1&amp;filters%5Bcontent_type%3Avideo%5D=1&amp;filters%5Bcontent_type%3Atemplate%5D=1&amp;filters%5Bcontent_type%3A3d%5D=1&amp;filters%5Bcontent_type%3Aimage%5D=1&amp;k=Nez+Perce-Clearwater+National+Forest&amp;order=relevance&amp;safe_search=1&amp;limit=100&amp;search_page=1&amp;search_type=usertyped&amp;acp=&amp;aco=Nez+Perce-Clearwater+National+Forest&amp;get_facets=0&amp;asset_id=291843380\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Bob Travis<\/a> \/ Adobe Stock \/ <a href=\"https:\/\/stock.adobe.com\/license-terms\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">License<\/a><\/figcaption>             <\/figure><figure class=\"swiper-slide\">                 <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Okanogan-County-Washington-1.png\" alt=\"Trees sprout along the hills surrounding Chopaka Lake in Okanogan County, Washington\" style=\"height: 500px;; \">                 <figcaption class=\"ub_image_slider_image_caption\"><strong>No. 5: <\/strong>Okanogan County, Washington | <strong>Overall Score: <\/strong>32.12<br><br><strong>Net Percentage Change in Tree Cover (2000-2020): <\/strong>-12% | Rank: 113<br><strong>Net Change in Tree Cover (2000-2020): <\/strong>-92.3 kilo hectares | Rank: 5<br><br>Photo Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/blmoregon\/28157132735\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Bureau of Land Management Oregon and Washington<\/a> \/ Flickr \/ <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/2.0\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CC BY 2.0<\/a><\/figcaption>             <\/figure><\/div>             <div class=\"swiper-pagination\"><\/div>             <div class=\"swiper-button-prev\"><\/div> <div class=\"swiper-button-next\"><\/div>         <\/div>  <p><a class=\"js-anchor\" id=\"key-insights\"><\/a><\/p>   <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Key Insights<\/h2>    <p><strong>700 counties<\/strong> in our ranking have <strong>lost 1 kilo hectare<\/strong> (or about 2,471 acres) of tree cover <strong>or more<\/strong> between 2000 and 2020. However, <strong>over half<\/strong> of the counties in our ranking \u2014 <strong>1,794<\/strong> of them \u2014 experienced a <strong>net gain in tree cover<\/strong> between 2000 and 2020.&nbsp;<\/p>    <p><strong>Alaskan territories<\/strong> bookmarked the <strong>top and bottom<\/strong> of our ranking, with some of the largest recorded tree canopy <strong>losses and gains<\/strong>. <strong>5 regions<\/strong> finished with <strong>high rates<\/strong> of canopy <strong>degradation<\/strong>, including <strong>Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area<\/strong> (No. 1) which is over <strong>7X bigger<\/strong> than the largest county of the lower 48 states, <strong>San Bernardino County, California<\/strong> (No. 112).&nbsp;<\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>Millions of acres of Alaskan wildlands have been impacted by <a href=\"https:\/\/akfireinfo.com\/2022\/07\/03\/alaska-surpasses-2-million-acres-burned\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">wildfires<\/a>, and since 2016, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.climatehubs.usda.gov\/hubs\/northwest\/topic\/reducing-spruce-beetle-damage-chugach-national-forest-alaska\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2 million acres<\/a> of spruce forest area have been devastated by spruce beetle infestations.&nbsp;<\/li> <\/ul>    <p><strong>5 Rhode Island<\/strong>, <strong>12 Maine<\/strong>, and <strong>23 Wyoming <\/strong>counties landed near the top with <strong>higher rates<\/strong> of<strong> tree loss<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Tree mortality <\/strong>in <strong>Rhode Island<\/strong> can be attributed to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.newportri.com\/story\/news\/state\/2018\/12\/06\/rhode-islands-forests-are-dying\/7107810007\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>gypsy moth caterpillars<\/strong><\/a> \u2014 which are responsible for killing <strong>over <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/ecori.org\/2021-6-2-for-better-or-worse-statewide-oak-tree-mortality-changes-ris-landscape\/#:~:text=In%20Rhode%20Island%2C%20about%2045%2C000%20acres%20of%20hardwood%20forest%2C%20most%20of%20it%20oak%20trees%2C%20died%20as%20a%20result%20of%20the%20gypsy%20moth%20infestation.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>45,000 acres<\/strong><\/a> of forest. Damage has also been caused by <strong>environmental stress<\/strong>,<strong> <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/dem.ri.gov\/natural-resources-bureau\/agriculture-and-forest-environment\/forest-health\/current-threats\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>other pests<\/strong><\/a>, and <strong>diseases<\/strong> such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.browndailyherald.com\/article\/2023\/04\/beech-leaf-disease-is-killing-rhode-islands-american-beeches-experts-say\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>beech leaf disease<\/strong><\/a>, discovered in 2012. The state is working to \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/dem.ri.gov\/press-releases\/dem-forest-restoration-project-aims-future-proof-45-acre-parcel-richmond-effects\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">future-proof<\/a>\u201d some forested areas by planting more resilient species like southern pines.<\/li> <\/ul>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>Many of <strong>Maine\u2019s trees<\/strong> are succumbing to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.maine.gov\/dacf\/mfs\/forest_health\/invasive_threats\/index.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>invasive threats<\/strong><\/a> such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aphis.usda.gov\/plant-pests-diseases\/eab\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>emerald ash borers<\/strong><\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.maine.gov\/DACF\/mfs\/forest_health\/insects\/hemlock_woolly_adelgid_fact_sheet.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>hemlock woolly adelgids<\/strong><\/a>, which are degrading forests of native beech, ash, and hemlock trees. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.maine.gov\/dacf\/mfs\/forest_health\/diseases\/declining_spruce_health.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Coastal spruce trees<\/a> are also under environmental threat from <strong>pests<\/strong> and <strong>harsh weather<\/strong> conditions.&nbsp;<\/li> <\/ul>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>Estimates show that the <strong>mountain pine beetle<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/cowboystatedaily.com\/2023\/08\/10\/the-standing-dead-wyomings-roadside-ghosts-forests-are-here-to-stay\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">epidemic<\/a> impacted <a href=\"https:\/\/wyoweed.org\/identify-pests\/#:~:text=In%202011%2C%20aerial%20surveys%20estimated%20that%20over%203.3%20million%20acres%20of%20federally%20managed%20forests%20in%20Wyoming%20were%20affected%20by%20the%20Mountain%20pine%20beetle.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>over 3.3 million acres<\/strong><\/a> of federal forest areas in <strong>Wyoming<\/strong>. The state is also removing many dying <a href=\"https:\/\/cowboystatedaily.com\/2024\/03\/24\/poor-planning-100-years-ago-shows-as-cheyenne-cuts-down-dozens-of-huge-trees\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">cottonwoods<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/li> <\/ul>    <p>Arid <strong>counties<\/strong> with less tree cover to begin with have some of the most dramatic <strong>net percentage<\/strong> <strong>increases<\/strong> and <strong>decreases<\/strong> in tree cover. Several <strong>Texas<\/strong> counties sprouted along the bottom of our ranking near <strong>Lea County, New Mexico<\/strong>, in last place. These regions don\u2019t naturally have heavily forested environments but have had comparatively large canopy gains.&nbsp;<\/p>    <p><a href=\"#media-resources\">Explore more regional insights below<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>   <p><a class=\"js-anchor\" id=\"ask-the-experts\"><\/a><\/p>  <div id=\"experts-block\" class=\"experts\">     <h2 class=\"text-2xl font-bold text-black mb-3\">Ask The Experts<\/h2>    <p>We turned to a panel of experts to learn more about what issues are stressing out tree canopies across the country. Read their insights below.<\/p> <ol> <li>What are 3 of the main driving factors of tree loss in the U.S.?<\/li> <li>Which U.S. tree species are most at risk from habitat loss or diseases?<\/li> <li>What are 3 of the worst consequences resulting from tree loss?<\/li> <li>What are 3 key steps to recovering from regional tree loss?<\/li> <li>What are 3 animals that are endangered due to tree loss?<\/li> <\/ol>    <div id=\"experts-container\" class=\"relative lg:mt-6\" x-data=\"experts()\" x-init=\"init()\">      <style>       .expert-avatars {         scrollbar-width: none;         -ms-overflow-style: none;          \/* momentum scroll on iOS *\/         -webkit-overflow-scrolling: touch;          \/* disbable vertical scroll for touch *\/         touch-action: pan-x;       }        \/* hide scroll bar *\/       .expert-avatars::-webkit-scrollbar {         display: none;       }        .expert-avatars .item {         width: 125px;         flex-shrink: 0;       }        .expert-avatars .item:not(:last-child) {         margin-right: 10px;       }        \/* hacky fix for padding at the end of the.expert-avatars *\/       .expert-avatars .item:last-child {         position: relative;       }        .expert-avatars .item:last-child::after {         position: absolute;         left: 100%;         height: 1px;         width: 20px;         display: block;         content: \"\";       }        .trim-label {         max-height: 18px;         text-overflow: ellipsis;         overflow: hidden;         display: -webkit-box;         -webkit-line-clamp: 1;         -webkit-box-orient: vertical;         line-height: 1.4;       }        .credentials {         max-height: 18px;         width: 250px;         text-overflow: ellipsis;         overflow: hidden;         display: -webkit-box;         -webkit-line-clamp: 1;         -webkit-box-orient: vertical;         line-height: 1.4;       }        .credentials-small {         max-height: 18px;         width: 110px;         text-overflow: ellipsis;         overflow: hidden;         display: -webkit-box;         -webkit-line-clamp: 1;         -webkit-box-orient: vertical;         line-height: 1.4;       }        [x-cloak] {         display: none;       }     <\/style>      <div class=\"expert-avatars flex overflow-x-scroll overscroll-contain px-2 mb-10 lg:hidden\">                         <div class=\"item text-center mx-3\" @click=\"openExpert('michael-g-andreu-phd', 'container')\">             <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Michael-Andreu.jpg?wsr\" alt=\"Michael Andreu\" class=\"mt-0 mx-auto mb-3 w-24 h-24 object-cover rounded-full border-white border-4 shadow-xl\">             <div class=\"text-sm leading-4 mb-2 text-black font-medium trim-label\">Michael G. Andreu, Ph.D. <\/div>             <div class=\"text-sm leading-4 mb-2 text-gray-800 trim-label\">Associate Professor - Forest Systems, Extension Specialist<\/div>           <\/div>                   <div class=\"item text-center mx-3\" @click=\"openExpert('muriel-fernandez', 'container')\">             <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Muriel-Fernandez-1-1.png?wsr\" alt=\"Muriel Fernandez\" class=\"mt-0 mx-auto mb-3 w-24 h-24 object-cover rounded-full border-white border-4 shadow-xl\">             <div class=\"text-sm leading-4 mb-2 text-black font-medium trim-label\">Muriel Fernandez <\/div>             <div class=\"text-sm leading-4 mb-2 text-gray-800 trim-label\">Lecturer<\/div>           <\/div>                   <\/div>                     <div           id=\"expert-michael-g-andreu-phd\"           class=\"mb-10 border border-gray-200 p-4 cursor-pointer lg:block\"           x-bind:class=\"{'lg:border-theme-green block': focusedExpert == 'michael-g-andreu-phd', 'hidden': focusedExpert != 'michael-g-andreu-phd'}\"           @click=\"openExpert('michael-g-andreu-phd', 'expert'); expertIsFocused = true\">            <div             x-bind:class=\"{'items-center': focusedExpert != 'michael-g-andreu-phd', 'items-start': focusedExpert == 'michael-g-andreu-phd'}\"             class=\"item mb-4 hidden lg:flex\"             @click=\"openExpert('michael-g-andreu-phd', 'expert')\">              <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Michael-Andreu.jpg?wsr\" alt=\"Michael Andreu\" class=\"m-0 mr-3 w-16 h-16 object-cover rounded-full lg:w-20 lg:h-20\">              <div>               <div                 x-bind:class=\"{'trim-label': focusedExpert != 'michael-g-andreu-phd'}\"                 class=\"text-sm leading-5 mb-2 text-black font-medium\">Michael G. Andreu, Ph.D. <\/div>               <div                 x-bind:class=\"{'trim-label': focusedExpert != 'michael-g-andreu-phd'}\"                 class=\"text-sm leading-5 mb-2 text-gray-800\">Associate Professor - Forest Systems, Extension Specialist<\/div>               <div                 x-bind:class=\"{'trim-label': focusedExpert != 'michael-g-andreu-phd'}\"                 class=\"text-gray-600 text-sm\">University of Florida IFAS, School of Forest, Fisheries and Geomatics Sciences<\/div>             <\/div>           <\/div>            <div             class=\"hidden lg:block\"             x-bind:class=\"{'lg:hidden': focusedExpert == 'michael-g-andreu-phd'}\">             <button class=\"flex items-center text-theme-green open-details\" @click=\"openExpert('michael-g-andreu-phd', 'expert'); expertIsFocused = true\">View Answers <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 20.243 13.501\" class=\"w-4 ml-2\">                 <path data-name=\"Icon ionic-ios-arrow-round-forward\" d=\"M12.909.258a.919.919 0 00-.007 1.294l4.275 4.282H.907a.914.914 0 000 1.828H17.17l-4.275 4.286a.925.925 0 00.007 1.294.91.91 0 001.287-.007l5.794-5.836a1.026 1.026 0 00.19-.288.872.872 0 00.07-.352.916.916 0 00-.26-.64L14.189.283a.9.9 0 00-1.28-.025z\" fill=\"#48a27a\" \/>               <\/svg><\/button>           <\/div>            <div             class=\"details fixed top-0 left-0 bg-white h-screen z-10 overflow-scroll w-screen lg:w-full lg:relative lg:h-auto\"             x-cloak x-show=\"focusedExpert == 'michael-g-andreu-phd'\"             x-transition:enter=\"transition ease-out duration-100 transform\"             x-transition:enter-start=\"opacity-0 scale-95\"             x-transition:enter-end=\"opacity-100 scale-100\"             x-transition:leave=\"transition ease-in duration-75 transform\"             x-transition:leave-start=\"opacity-100 scale-100\"             x-transition:leave-end=\"opacity-0 scale-95\">              <div class=\"bg-theme-green p-4 mb-4 pb-20 relative text-white lg:bg-white lg:pb-0 lg:text-theme-green lg:mb-8\">               <button class=\"close-details mr-4 mt-2 absolute top-0 left-0 flex items-center ml-4 lg:mt-0 lg:ml-0\" x-on:click.stop=\"closeExpert('michael-g-andreu-phd')\">                 <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 20.243 13.501\" class=\"w-6 mr-2 fill-current\">                   <path data-name=\"Icon ionic-ios-arrow-round-forward\" d=\"M7.334 13.243a.919.919 0 00.007-1.294L3.066 7.667h16.27a.914.914 0 000-1.828H3.073l4.275-4.286A.925.925 0 007.341.259a.91.91 0 00-1.287.007L.26 6.102a1.026 1.026 0 00-.19.288.872.872 0 00-.07.352.916.916 0 00.26.64l5.794 5.836a.9.9 0 001.28.025z\" \/>                 <\/svg> Close               <\/button>             <\/div>              <div class=\"item text-center px-4 w-full text-center -mt-20 relative z-20 pointer-events-none lg:hidden\">               <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Michael-Andreu.jpg?wsr\" alt=\"Michael Andreu\" class=\"mt-0 mb-3 mx-auto w-32 h-32 object-cover rounded-full border-white border-4 shadow-xl\">               <div class=\"text-base leading-5 mb-2 text-black font-medium\">Michael G. Andreu, Ph.D. <\/div>               <div class=\"text-sm leading-5 mb-2 text-gray-800\">Associate Professor - Forest Systems, Extension Specialist<\/div>               <div class=\"text-gray-600 text-sm\">University of Florida IFAS, School of Forest, Fisheries and Geomatics Sciences<\/div>             <\/div>              <div class=\"px-4 lg:px-0\">               <p><strong>What are three of the main driving factors of tree loss in the U.S.?<\/strong><\/p> <p>1. In Florida: Population growth (human). In 1900, we had around 500,000 people. By the time I was born in the late 60\u2019s we had around 6 million, by the time I was an adult (18 years old) we had nearly doubled that, by 2000, about 16,000,000 million, and today over 23 million.<\/p> <p>Roughly 1,000 people per day are moving to Florida and they all need places to live, work, shop, and recreate. These are enormous pressures on the land, and so we are seeing forest and agricultural lands being developed at unprecedented rates to accommodate this demand.<\/p> <p>2. In Florida: Development.<\/p> <p>3. In Florida: Hurricanes. In places that were devastated by Hurricane Michael, we saw massive loss of forest area. While some of those landowners salvaged and replanted their forests, there are still many that can not afford to do so.<\/p> <p>Yes, trees will likely grow back on their own, but they will likely not be as productive as the previously managed forests. Also, some of the landowners are succumbing to the pressure of just selling the land off in most cases for direct development or speculative buyers who are looking to develop in the future.<\/p> <p><strong>What are three of the worst consequences resulting from tree loss?<\/strong><\/p> <p>1. Loss of ecosystem services: Water quantity (aquifer recharge), water quality (forest lands act as filtration systems), slow erosion, uptake nutrients, cooling effect of forests, carbon sequestration \u2014 the list goes on.<\/p> <p>2. In urban areas, the cooling effect is very important \u2014 especially in Florida. We know that trees can reduce the impact of the urban heat island effect if canopy cover is sufficient. This has direct and indirect impacts on the health and well-being of the citizens living in these communities. They impact the economic well-being of communities as well \u2014 we have the research to back these statements.<\/p> <p>3. Biodiversity, which is both relevant just for the innate importance of supporting habitat for multiple species, but, perhaps to bring it home, important for supporting human habitats. When the system is healthy and thriving, we (humans) do as well.<\/p> <p><strong>What are three key steps to recovering from regional tree loss?<\/strong><\/p> <p>1. Smarter development. We need to better understand the impacts of development and forest loss so that we can be more strategic in how and where we are developing across the landscape (large scale) and not just making decisions at a very local level where the broader context is not considered. Right hand talking to the left hand sort of thing.<\/p> <p>2. Cities and counties need to engage in urban forest management planning which involves answering 4 questions.<\/p> <ul> <li>What do you have? They need an understanding of the forest and need an understanding of the values of the citizenry.<\/li> <li>What do you want? A clearly stated future condition of the forest and the services you want it to provide.<\/li> <li>How are you going to get there? An adaptive management plan, that states actions to support meeting goals and the expected results of those actions, for a 5\u201320 year horizon.<\/li> <li>How do you know if you are there (or getting there)? Plans must have a mechanism to monitor if the actions are achieving the desired outcome and provide a process to adjust based on the feedback received.<\/li> <\/ul> <p>3. Education. We need the population and the leaders \u2014 city commissioners and county commissioners \u2014 to understand the value and importance of a healthy forest and urban forest for the welfare of those areas where we live. They need to understand WHY spending money to support these assets is not just a \u201cnicety\u201d to have if we can afford it but rather a \u201cnecessity\u201d that one cannot afford to ignore.<\/p> <p><strong>Which U.S. tree species are most at risk from habitat loss or diseases?<\/strong><\/p> <p>Lots of diseases, insects, and invasive plants are impacting native trees and\/or plants.<\/p> <ul> <li>Torreya tree: Very small range, very few left, and very much impacted by a disease (we may see these go extinct in the next decade or two).<\/li> <li>Laurel wilt (spread by a non-native beetle): taking out our red bays, swamp bays, sassafrass, and other species.<\/li> <li>Lethal bronzing (spread by leafhoppers) and our native cabbage palm (and many other palm species).<\/li> <li>Mangroves are being threatened by a new disease \u2014 the list is quite long, really.<\/li> <\/ul>             <\/div>            <\/div>          <\/div>                <div           id=\"expert-muriel-fernandez\"           class=\"mb-10 border border-gray-200 p-4 cursor-pointer lg:block\"           x-bind:class=\"{'lg:border-theme-green block': focusedExpert == 'muriel-fernandez', 'hidden': focusedExpert != 'muriel-fernandez'}\"           @click=\"openExpert('muriel-fernandez', 'expert'); expertIsFocused = true\">            <div             x-bind:class=\"{'items-center': focusedExpert != 'muriel-fernandez', 'items-start': focusedExpert == 'muriel-fernandez'}\"             class=\"item mb-4 hidden lg:flex\"             @click=\"openExpert('muriel-fernandez', 'expert')\">              <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Muriel-Fernandez-1-1.png?wsr\" alt=\"Muriel Fernandez\" class=\"m-0 mr-3 w-16 h-16 object-cover rounded-full lg:w-20 lg:h-20\">              <div>               <div                 x-bind:class=\"{'trim-label': focusedExpert != 'muriel-fernandez'}\"                 class=\"text-sm leading-5 mb-2 text-black font-medium\">Muriel Fernandez <\/div>               <div                 x-bind:class=\"{'trim-label': focusedExpert != 'muriel-fernandez'}\"                 class=\"text-sm leading-5 mb-2 text-gray-800\">Lecturer<\/div>               <div                 x-bind:class=\"{'trim-label': focusedExpert != 'muriel-fernandez'}\"                 class=\"text-gray-600 text-sm\">Cal Poly Pomona, Department of Landscape Architecture<\/div>             <\/div>           <\/div>            <div             class=\"hidden lg:block\"             x-bind:class=\"{'lg:hidden': focusedExpert == 'muriel-fernandez'}\">             <button class=\"flex items-center text-theme-green open-details\" @click=\"openExpert('muriel-fernandez', 'expert'); expertIsFocused = true\">View Answers <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 20.243 13.501\" class=\"w-4 ml-2\">                 <path data-name=\"Icon ionic-ios-arrow-round-forward\" d=\"M12.909.258a.919.919 0 00-.007 1.294l4.275 4.282H.907a.914.914 0 000 1.828H17.17l-4.275 4.286a.925.925 0 00.007 1.294.91.91 0 001.287-.007l5.794-5.836a1.026 1.026 0 00.19-.288.872.872 0 00.07-.352.916.916 0 00-.26-.64L14.189.283a.9.9 0 00-1.28-.025z\" fill=\"#48a27a\" \/>               <\/svg><\/button>           <\/div>            <div             class=\"details fixed top-0 left-0 bg-white h-screen z-10 overflow-scroll w-screen lg:w-full lg:relative lg:h-auto\"             x-cloak x-show=\"focusedExpert == 'muriel-fernandez'\"             x-transition:enter=\"transition ease-out duration-100 transform\"             x-transition:enter-start=\"opacity-0 scale-95\"             x-transition:enter-end=\"opacity-100 scale-100\"             x-transition:leave=\"transition ease-in duration-75 transform\"             x-transition:leave-start=\"opacity-100 scale-100\"             x-transition:leave-end=\"opacity-0 scale-95\">              <div class=\"bg-theme-green p-4 mb-4 pb-20 relative text-white lg:bg-white lg:pb-0 lg:text-theme-green lg:mb-8\">               <button class=\"close-details mr-4 mt-2 absolute top-0 left-0 flex items-center ml-4 lg:mt-0 lg:ml-0\" x-on:click.stop=\"closeExpert('muriel-fernandez')\">                 <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 20.243 13.501\" class=\"w-6 mr-2 fill-current\">                   <path data-name=\"Icon ionic-ios-arrow-round-forward\" d=\"M7.334 13.243a.919.919 0 00.007-1.294L3.066 7.667h16.27a.914.914 0 000-1.828H3.073l4.275-4.286A.925.925 0 007.341.259a.91.91 0 00-1.287.007L.26 6.102a1.026 1.026 0 00-.19.288.872.872 0 00-.07.352.916.916 0 00.26.64l5.794 5.836a.9.9 0 001.28.025z\" \/>                 <\/svg> Close               <\/button>             <\/div>              <div class=\"item text-center px-4 w-full text-center -mt-20 relative z-20 pointer-events-none lg:hidden\">               <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Muriel-Fernandez-1-1.png?wsr\" alt=\"Muriel Fernandez\" class=\"mt-0 mb-3 mx-auto w-32 h-32 object-cover rounded-full border-white border-4 shadow-xl\">               <div class=\"text-base leading-5 mb-2 text-black font-medium\">Muriel Fernandez <\/div>               <div class=\"text-sm leading-5 mb-2 text-gray-800\">Lecturer<\/div>               <div class=\"text-gray-600 text-sm\">Cal Poly Pomona, Department of Landscape Architecture<\/div>             <\/div>              <div class=\"px-4 lg:px-0\">               <p><strong>What are three of the main driving factors of tree loss in the U.S.?<\/strong><\/p> <p>1. Climate change \u2014 drought and disease<\/p> <p>2. Forest management practices and deforestation<\/p> <p>3. Fire deficit.<\/p> <p><strong>What are three of the worst consequences resulting from tree loss?<\/strong><\/p> <p>1. Decrease in air quality<\/p> <p>2. Increased urban heat island effect<\/p> <p>3. Decrease of ecosystems and their services and loss of biodiversity.<\/p> <p><strong>What are three key steps to recovering from regional tree loss?<\/strong><\/p> <p>This is a difficult question, because climate change impacts many different species requirements and, once removed, it&#8217;s difficult to regain species back.<\/p> <p>1. Although tree planting is a major foundation tool to help aid climate change, if not managed correctly it can be very costly and help very little in carbon sequestration, thus greatly a loss of biodiversity.<\/p> <p>2. Design policies around the ecosystems that are affected or could be impacted, bring true scientists on board and educate via public grants to help plant trees in vastly unserved communities.<\/p> <p>3. Educate cities in proper tree care and planting (another incentive) and low-intensity prescribed and natural fires.<\/p> <p><strong>What are three animals that are endangered due to tree loss?<\/strong><\/p> <p>1. Birds.<\/p> <p>2. Insects.<\/p> <p>3. Our native bees.<\/p> <p>I would suggest looking at the listed <a href=\"https:\/\/wildlife.ca.gov\/Conservation\/CESA\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">threatened and endangered species<\/a> list.<\/p> <p><strong>Which U.S. tree species are most at risk from habitat loss or diseases?<\/strong><\/p> <p>1. Pines, the higher the elevation.<\/p> <p>2. Oaks.<\/p> <p>3. Joshua trees \u2014 they are not actual trees, they belong to the genus Yucca.<\/p>             <\/div>            <\/div>          <\/div>              <\/div> <\/div>  <p><a class=\"js-anchor\" id=\"methodology\"><\/a><\/p>   <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Methodology<\/h2>    <p>First, we determined the factors (metrics) that are most relevant to rank the Counties Going Bald: Tree Cover Loss Over 20 Years. We then assigned a weight to each factor based on its importance and grouped those factors into 1 category: Tree Loss. The categories, factors, and their weights are listed in the table below.<\/p>    <p>For each of the 3,132 U.S. counties with available data, we then gathered data on each factor from the sources listed below the table.&nbsp;<\/p>    <p>Finally, we calculated scores (out of 100 points) for each county to determine its rank in each factor, each category, and overall. A county\u2019s Overall Score is the average of its scores across all factors and categories. The highest Overall Score ranked \u201cMost Tree Loss\u201d (No. 1) and the lowest \u201cLeast Tree Loss\u201d (No. 200).<\/p>    <p>Note: Some location names (Census Area, Borough, or Municipality) are considered counties or their equivalents by the U.S. Census Bureau.<\/p>   <div class=\"infogram-embed\" data-id=\"1c8fed8d-9ac8-4b36-9bcd-68e7a7983552\" data-type=\"interactive\"><\/div><script>!function(e,t,s,i){var n=\"InfogramEmbeds\",o=e.getElementsByTagName(\"script\"),d=o[0],r=\/^http:\/.test(e.location)?\"http:\":\"https:\";if(\/^\\\/{2}\/.test(i)&&(i=r+i),window[n]&&window[n].initialized)window[n].process&&window[n].process();else if(!e.getElementById(s)){var a=e.createElement(\"script\");a.async=1,a.id=s,a.src=i,d.parentNode.insertBefore(a,d)}}(document,0,\"infogram-async\",\"\/\/e.infogram.com\/js\/dist\/embed-loader-min.js\");<\/script>    <p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><strong><em>Sources:<\/em><\/strong><em> Global Forest Watch<\/em><\/p>   <p><a class=\"js-anchor\" id=\"final-thoughts\"><\/a><\/p>   <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Final Thoughts: What\u2019s Causing the Nation\u2019s Canopies to Recede?<\/h2>    <p>United Nations members (and the U.S. by executive order) have committed to a <a href=\"https:\/\/grist.org\/agriculture\/30x30-is-conservations-flashy-new-goal-now-countries-need-to-figure-out-what-it-actually-means\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">30X30 conservation goal<\/a>, aiming to <strong>conserve 30%<\/strong> of their land and seas by 2030. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.morningagclips.com\/md-meets-30-of-state-land-conservation-goal\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Maryland<\/a> has already met this goal.&nbsp;<\/p>    <p>Unfortunately, even conserved canopies can be decimated by problems like pests and diseases.&nbsp;<\/p>    <p>Tree cover loss can have many root causes.<\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Extreme weather events<\/strong> can weaken or destroy trees: <a href=\"https:\/\/roofgnome.com\/blog\/studies\/most-vulnerable-counties-tornado-damage\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Tornadoes<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/myguttergnome.com\/blog\/studies\/most-hurricane-vulnerable-counties\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">hurricanes<\/a>, flooding, <a href=\"https:\/\/oregoncapitalchronicle.com\/2024\/01\/29\/assessing-storm-damage-to-portlands-tree-canopy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ice storms<\/a>, drought, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spc.noaa.gov\/misc\/AbtDerechos\/derechofacts.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">derechos<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/myguttergnome.com\/blog\/studies\/most-landslide-vulnerable-counties\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">landslides<\/a>, and acid rain are known to damage or kill trees.&nbsp;<\/li>    <li>A report found that <strong>wildfires<\/strong> were to blame for <a href=\"https:\/\/wildfiretoday.com\/2023\/09\/13\/fires-burn-more-tree-cover-every-year-due-to-climate-change\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">26%\u201329%<\/a> of total global forest loss from 2001 to 2019.<\/li>    <li><strong>Pests<\/strong> \u2014 especially <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/news\/spotted-lanternfly-spongy-moth-invasive-species-eggs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">invasive defoliating species<\/a> like the spotted lanternfly and spongy moth \u2014 can weaken or kill native tree species.&nbsp;<\/li>    <li>Trees can be impacted by various <strong>diseases<\/strong> \u2014 such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theatlantic.com\/science\/archive\/2023\/12\/american-chestnut-perfect-tree-restoration\/676927\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">blight<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/tree-care\/oak-tree-diseases-how-to-treat-them\/#12-oak-wilt\">oak wilt<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/tree-care\/pine-tree-diseases-how-treat-them\/#annosus\">annosus root rot<\/a>, and other fungal diseases \u2014 which can be exacerbated by harsh weather conditions and pests.<\/li>    <li>Across the globe <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41467-023-44321-9\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">17,000 tree species<\/a> are at risk due to <strong>human development<\/strong>. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.science.org\/doi\/10.1126\/sciadv.1500052\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Forest fragmentation<\/a> from road development, pipelines, and sprawl can also disrupt local ecology.&nbsp;<\/li> <\/ul>    <p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/statistics\/deforestation-statistics\/\">Deforestation<\/a> leads to decreased biodiversity, impacting wildlife like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/science\/2024\/03\/09\/climate-tree-loss-lizard-threat\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">lizards<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.birdlife.org\/news\/2023\/03\/27\/lost-accelerating-deforestation-a-major-threat-to-birds\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">birds<\/a>, and the ecosystem overall. Habitat destruction can also increase disease transmission, such as <a href=\"https:\/\/news.emory.edu\/stories\/2024\/05\/esc_rabies_costa_rica_bats_06-05-2024\/story.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">rabies outbreaks<\/a>.<\/p>    <p>Trees can sprout as climate heroes as we deal with <a href=\"https:\/\/today.oregonstate.edu\/news\/researchers-identify-fastest-rate-natural-carbon-dioxide-rise-over-last-50000-years\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">unprecedented levels<\/a> of carbon dioxide, with the ability to hold high amounts \u2014 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fs.usda.gov\/features\/trees-are-climate-change-carbon-storage-heroes#:~:text=In%20one%20year%2C%20a%20mature,atmosphere%2C%20like%20fire%20or%20decomposition.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">over 48 pounds<\/a> per mature tree \u2014 of CO2.<\/p>    <p><strong>Conservation efforts<\/strong> like the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fs.usda.gov\/managing-land\/private-land\/forest-legacy\/program\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Forest Legacy Program<\/a>, <strong>sustainable forestry practices<\/strong> focusing on maintaining biodiversity, and <strong>widespread awareness<\/strong> about tree care and invasive threats can help keep our canopies green and growing.&nbsp;<\/p>    <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tree Care Tips<\/h3>    <p>Trees are not only beneficial to the environment, but they can increase your property value and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/tree-care\/pros-cons-having-trees-yard\/#cools\">lower your energy bills<\/a>. They also add some outdoor shade and an element of privacy.<\/p>    <p>Do your part and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/tree-care\/how-to-plant-tree\/\">plant a tree<\/a>. Keep it alive with the help of our guides below.&nbsp;<\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/tree-care\/tips-for-choosing-a-tree-at-the-nursery\/\">Tips for Choosing a Tree at the Nursery<\/a><\/li>    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/tree-care\/how-to-pick-the-right-site-to-plant-a-tree\/\">How to Pick the Right Site to Plant a Tree<\/a><\/li>    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/tree-care\/how-much-how-often-how-best-water-trees\/\">How Much, How Often, and How Best to Water Your Trees<\/a><\/li>    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/tree-care\/how-to-give-your-tree-a-checkup\/\">How to Give Your Tree a Checkup<\/a><\/li>    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/tree-care\/signs-your-tree-is-dying\/\">13 Signs Your Tree is Dying<\/a><\/li>    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/tree-care\/common-types-of-tree-fungus\/\">Common Types of Tree Fungus<\/a><\/li>    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/tree-care\/best-disease-resistant-trees\/\">Best Disease-Resistant Trees<\/a><\/li>    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/tree-care\/best-drought-tolerant-trees\/\">10 Best Drought-Tolerant Trees<\/a><\/li> <\/ul>    <p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/\"><em>Hire a local LawnStarter crew<\/em><\/a><em> to help grow your backyard canopy or revamp your landscape with native plants and trees.&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>   <p><a class=\"js-anchor\" id=\"media-resources\"><\/a><\/p>   <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Media Resources<\/h2>   <div class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle wp-block-ub-content-toggle-block\" id=\"ub-content-toggle-block-35e7af7b-b9f2-4c5c-925b-24783c0869d7\" data-mobilecollapse=\"true\" data-desktopcollapse=\"true\" data-preventcollapse=\"false\" data-showonlyone=\"false\"> <div class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion\" style=\"border-color: #f1f1f1; \" id=\"ub-content-toggle-panel-block-\"> \t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-title-wrap\" style=\"background-color: #f1f1f1;\" aria-controls=\"ub-content-toggle-panel-0-35e7af7b-b9f2-4c5c-925b-24783c0869d7\" tabindex=\"0\"> \t\t\t<p class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-title ub-content-toggle-title-35e7af7b-b9f2-4c5c-925b-24783c0869d7\" style=\"color: #000000; \">Quotes from LawnStarter Editor-in-Chief, Jeff Herman:<\/p> \t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-toggle-wrap right\" style=\"color: #000000;\"><span class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-state-indicator wp-block-ub-chevron-down\"><\/span><\/div> \t\t<\/div> \t\t\t<div role=\"region\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-content-wrap ub-hide\" id=\"ub-content-toggle-panel-0-35e7af7b-b9f2-4c5c-925b-24783c0869d7\">  <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Valdez-Cordova Borough, Alaska <\/strong>(No. 3,130), had the <strong>highest net gain<\/strong> in tree cover, <strong>117 kilo hectares<\/strong>, followed by Alaskan territories <strong>Lake and Peninsula Borough<\/strong> (No. 3,129) and <strong>Matanuska-Susitna Borough<\/strong> (No. 3,125).\u00a0<\/li> <\/ul>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>Spacious counties like <strong>Idaho County, Idaho<\/strong> (No. 4), <strong>Aroostook County, Maine<\/strong> (No. 10), and <strong>Navajo County, Arizona<\/strong> (No. 11) \u2014 each among the nation\u2019s 50 <a href=\"http:\/\/www.usa.com\/rank\/us--land-area--county-rank.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">largest counties<\/a> \u2014 scored near the top of our ranking with <strong>over 47 kilo hectares<\/strong> of <strong>canopy loss<\/strong> over 2 decades.<\/li> <\/ul>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>8 Idaho counties<\/strong> \u2014 like <strong>Idaho County<\/strong> (No. 4), <strong>Valley County<\/strong> (No. 6), and <strong>Custer County<\/strong> (No. 12) \u2014 scored among the <strong>100 counties<\/strong> with the <strong>most tree cover loss<\/strong>. Canopies in the Gem State have been devastated by dwarf mistletoes, bark beetles, and other <a href=\"https:\/\/bonnercountydailybee.com\/news\/2021\/oct\/27\/whats-bugging-forests-parasites-insects-fungus-and\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">defoliators<\/a>.\u00a0<\/li> <\/ul>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>Only <strong>13<\/strong> out of <strong>58<\/strong> <strong>California counties<\/strong> finished in the bottom half of our ranking. A statewide survey reported around <a href=\"https:\/\/phys.org\/news\/2023-02-trees-died-california-spiked-year.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>36.3 million<\/strong><\/a><strong> dead trees<\/strong> in 2022. California forests struggle with <strong>drought, disease, and pests<\/strong>, in addition to <strong>warmer temperatures<\/strong> and <strong>overcrowded forests<\/strong>.<\/li> <\/ul>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Out of 11 California counties<\/strong> that exist entirely within the Sierra Nevada, <strong>9 counties<\/strong> \u2014 such as <strong>Butte<\/strong> (No. 20), <strong>Madera<\/strong> (No. 139), and <strong>Placer<\/strong> (No. 197) \u2014 finished in the <strong>balding half<\/strong> of our ranking. Only <strong>Mono<\/strong> (No. 1764) and <strong>Kern<\/strong> (No. 2077) landed toward the bottom, with <strong>tree cover gains<\/strong> of <strong>1.2<\/strong> and <strong>2.3 kilo hectares<\/strong>, respectively.\u00a0<\/li> <\/ul>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>Every year residents of <strong>Custer County, South Dakota<\/strong> (No. 33), set fire to an effigy of a mountain pine beetle at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.custersd.com\/Burning-Beetle\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Burning Beetle<\/a> festival. The region has battled with this beetle on and off since the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.custersd.com\/blog\/Mountain-Pine-Beetle-Story\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">1890s<\/a>, and it is responsible for a 1996\u20132016 epidemic that damaged <a href=\"https:\/\/danr.sd.gov\/Conservation\/Forestry\/ForestHealth\/MountainPineBeetle\/default.aspx#:~:text=The%20most%20recent%20mountain%20pine%20beetle%20epidemic%20in%20the%20Black%20Hills%20lasted%20from%201996%20to%202016%2C%20and%20resulted%20in%20approximately%20450%2C000%20acres%20affected%20to%20varying%20degrees.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>450,000 acres<\/strong><\/a> of the Black Hills.\u00a0<\/li> <\/ul>  <\/div> \t\t<\/div> <\/div>   <p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><strong>Main Photo Credit:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/stock.adobe.com\/search?filters%5Bcontent_type%3Aphoto%5D=1&amp;filters%5Bcontent_type%3Aillustration%5D=1&amp;filters%5Bcontent_type%3Azip_vector%5D=1&amp;filters%5Bcontent_type%3Avideo%5D=1&amp;filters%5Bcontent_type%3Atemplate%5D=1&amp;filters%5Bcontent_type%3A3d%5D=1&amp;filters%5Bcontent_type%3Aimage%5D=1&amp;filters%5Bcontent_type%3Aaudio%5D=0&amp;filters%5Binclude_stock_enterprise%5D=0&amp;filters%5Bis_editorial%5D=0&amp;filters%5Bfree_collection%5D=0&amp;k=deforestation&amp;order=relevance&amp;safe_search=1&amp;limit=100&amp;search_page=1&amp;search_type=usertyped&amp;acp=&amp;aco=deforestation&amp;get_facets=0&amp;asset_id=353161227\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Andrii Chagovets<\/a> \/ Adobe Stock \/ <a href=\"https:\/\/stock.adobe.com\/license-terms\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">License<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Which U.S. counties have are facing deforestation and thinning canopy coverage? 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