Reforestation efforts in the U.S. have seen substantial growth in recent years with increased investments and a focus on restoring forests across both federal and private lands. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service plays an important role in reforesting large areas annually.
These efforts not only contribute to environmental sustainability by addressing carbon emissions but also bring economic and health benefits. Read on to learn the latest U.S. reforestation statistics.
Key Takeaways:
- In 2022, the U.S. government allocated over $100 million towards reforestation efforts, more than triple the funding compared to previous years.
- Over the past 5 fiscal years, the USDA Forest Service has reforested an average of 190,000 acres each year, consisting of 60,000 acres of tree planting and 130,000 acres of natural regeneration.
- In 2022, more than 4 million acres of forest in the U.S. required replanting over the next decade, which averaged 400,000 acres per year.
- Florida holds the top spot for the highest annual urban forest value at $1.9 billion, followed by California at $1.4 billion.
- The USDA Forest Service oversees 7.4 million acres of federal land with reforestation potential. The Bureau of Land Management also holds 3.8 million acres of land with reforestation potential.
- The contiguous U.S. offers 133 million acres of historically forested land that now presents valuable opportunities for reforestation.
- To meet half of the nation’s reforestation goal by 2040, U.S. nurseries would need to increase seedling production by an additional 1.8 billion seedlings annually.
- Research from the World Resources Institute suggests that a federal investment of $4-4.5 billion per year over 20 years could lead to the restoration of up to 60 billion trees.
- Investing $1 million in reforestation and sustainable forest management creates nearly 40 jobs.
- Planting 31.4 million trees annually across U.S. cities would help create and sustain at least 228,000 jobs, store nearly 1 billion metric tons of carbon, and save around $1.6 billion annually by reducing healthcare costs.
- A 2022 study in Portland, Oregon, found that planting 100 trees helped prevent 1 premature death.
- In 2021, wildfires scorched more than 7 million acres across the U.S., with over 80% of the reforestation demand on National Forest lands arising from post-wildfire planting.
Number of Trees Planted Annually in the United States
- According to the USDA, the U.S. government allocated over $100 million for reforestation efforts in 2022, which marks more than triple the investment compared to previous years.
- In the past 5 fiscal years, the USDA Forest Service has reforested an average of 190,000 acres each year, comprising 60,000 acres of tree planting and 130,000 acres dedicated to activities that promote natural regeneration.
- The World Economic Forum reported that in 2022, more than 4 million acres of forest in the U.S. required replanting over the next decade — which averages 400,000 acres per year. If achieved, this effort would far surpass the 60,000 acres planted the previous year.
- In 2021, the National Forest Foundation and the 50 Million For Our Forests campaign planted a total of 7,338,912 trees.
- The USDA Forest Service reported that in 2018, there were approximately 5.5 billion trees (39.4% tree cover) in U.S. urban areas that covered 127 million acres of leaf area and 44 million tons of dry-weight leaf biomass. The top 5 states with the highest annual urban forest values included:
Regional Differences in Reforestation Efforts in the United States
- Nowak et al.’s 2022 study, “The Disparity in Tree Cover and Ecosystem Service Values Among Redlining Classes in the United States,” created 4 groups of areas that indicated the security level of real estate investments — Class A with the highest quality, Class B still favorable, Class C showed signs of decline, and Class D was considered high-risk. On a national scale, the average tree cover in Class A areas was 40.1%, compared to just 20.8% in Class D.
Reforestation Potential in the United States
- American Forests reports the following reforestation potential on federal and private lands:
- On federal land, the USDA Forest Service has as much as 7.4 million acres of reforestation potential.
- The Bureau of Land Management has an additional 3.8 million acres potential.
- State parks, forests, and other lands have a total of 2.5 million acres of reforestation potential.
- Private landowners, including family woodland owners, farmers, and producers, hold the largest total reforestation potential, with 114 million acres.
- American Forests reports that the top 3 U.S. regions with the highest reforestation potential include the South with 63.2 million acres, the Northeast and Midwest with 38.8 million acres, and the Southwest with 11.7 million acres.
- According to American Forests, in the contiguous U.S., more than 133 million acres of land that were historically forested currently present reforestation opportunities.
- To fulfill half of the total reforestation goal by 2040 (66 million acres), U.S. nurseries would need to produce an extra 1.8 billion seedlings annually.
- Since 2005, the number of states with nurseries has decreased by 19%, primarily because nurseries have struggled to cover their costs through seedling sales.
- According to American Forests, reforesting 148 million acres in the U.S. over the next 15 years will require 3 nurseries to increase seedling production from 1.4 billion to 5.1 billion annually, more than tripling current output.
- American Forests also predicts that the contiguous United States has the potential to reforest 148 million acres. However, achieving this goal by 2040, even when prioritizing the most suitable locations for successful reforestation, would demand 5.1 billion tree seedlings each year.
Economic, Health, and Environmental Impact of Reforestation in the United States
Economic Benefits
- According to a study by the Forest Service’s Dr. David Nowak, planting 31.4 million trees annually across cities in the U.S. would create and sustain at least 228,000 jobs each year.
- Research from the World Resources Institute (WRI) indicates that a federal investment of $4-4.5 billion per year over 20 years could lead to the restoration of up to 60 billion trees in the United States, primarily on private lands.
- WRI research shows that investing $1 million in reforestation and sustainable forest management can create nearly 40 jobs, including roles for foresters, nursery botanists, machinery operators, and tree-planting laborers.
- Donovan et al.’s study, “The Association Between Tree Planting and Mortality: A Natural Experiment and Cost-Benefit Analysis,” estimated that planting a tree in each of Portland’s 140 Census tracts could provide annual benefits worth $14.2 million. In comparison, the yearly cost of maintaining 140 trees would range from $2,716 to $13,720.
Environmental Benefits
- According to the WRI, an annual federal investment of $4-4.5 billion in tree restoration could eliminate nearly 10% of annual U.S. carbon emissions at a cost of under $10 per ton of carbon dioxide.
- According to a study by the Forest Service’s Dr. David Nowak, planting 31.4 million trees annually across cities in the U.S. would store nearly 1 billion metric tons of carbon and save around $1.6 billion annually by reducing costs related to issues like asthma-related emergency room visits.
- An analysis by One Earth estimates that reforesting suitable areas in the contiguous United States would require approximately 68 billion trees, capable of absorbing 333 million metric tons of carbon dioxide annually. This reduction would offset about 5% of the nation’s yearly greenhouse gas emissions, equivalent to the emissions produced by 72 million cars each year.
Health Benefits
- A 2022 study by the U.S. Forest Service examining 30 years of tree planting efforts in Portland, Oregon titled “The Association Between Tree Planting and Mortality: A Natural Experiment and Cost-Benefit Analysis” revealed that planting 100 trees helped prevent 1 premature death.
- A 2020 study — titled “Health Impact Assessment of Philadelphia’s 2025 Tree Canopy Cover Goals” — on Philadelphia’s initiative to achieve 30% tree canopy coverage in each neighborhood by 2025 projected that meeting this target could prevent 403 premature deaths each year, including 244 in lower-income areas. At the time of the report, disadvantaged neighborhoods had an average tree canopy coverage of approximately 17%.
Cost per Acre for Reforestation in the United States
- According to North Carolina State University research, the estimated cost of reforestation per acre is as follows:
- The cost of stand establishment, which includes site preparation, reforestation, and silvicultural practices, ranges from less than $100 to more than $450 per acre.
- Ongoing management activities, such as prescribed burning, boundary line maintenance, and insect or disease protection, incur costs of $2-4 per acre per year.
- Investment in loblolly pine plantations, according to North Carolina State University research in 2024, has an ROI of about 9-11%.
Impact of Wildfires on Reforestation Needs
- The National Forest Foundation reports that in 2021, wildfires scorched over 7 million acres across the U.S. and that post-wildfire planting now makes up more than 80% of the reforestation demand on National Forest lands.
- The USDA Forest Service’s reforestation strategy in 2022 highlights that, over the past decade, only 6% of the annual post-wildfire replanting needs were met.
Barriers to Reforestation in the United States
- American Forests conducted a survey in 2022 and found that the most commonly cited barrier to expanding new seedling production in the United States is the shortage of workforce.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are U.S. Forests Growing or Shrinking?
According to the United Nations’ Forest and Agriculture Organization (FAO), forests in the United States have increased by around 5% from 1990 to 2020. This corresponds to an increase of reforested land by 18 million acres.
What Is the Rate of Reforestation in the United States?
The FAO reports that between 2015 and 2020, the reforestation rate in the United States was 691,000 hectares annually.
Which State Has the Most Trees?
Data from the Department of Agriculture reveals that in 2017 — the most recent year with complete state data — the states with the highest forest coverage were Maine (89%), New Hampshire (83%), West Virginia (79%), Vermont (76%), and Alabama (71%). For more information on tree cover in different American states, check out our article on tree cover statistics in the U.S.
