There are an estimated 3 trillion trees in the world. This estimate is based on global scientific research that combines satellite data and field measurements. However, humans have already significantly reduced the number of trees on Earth. Since the beginning of human civilization, around half of the world’s trees have been lost due to deforestation and land use change.
At the same time, research shows that there is still large potential to restore forests globally. A widely cited study by Bastin et al. (2019) estimates that there is potential to restore up to 1 trillion additional trees on suitable land worldwide. In many cases, forests can recover naturally if conditions are right, meaning that restoration is not only about planting trees, but also about allowing ecosystems to regenerate.
