The Earth is a Lot Greener Than It Was 20 Years Ago

Published on: March 6, 2019 / Update from: August 6, 2023 - Author: Konrad Wolfenstein

The Earth is much greener than it was 20 years ago – @envato | Paul Schlemmer

The earth is much greener than it was 20 years ago. What sounds like a reason to celebrate should be treated with caution. Leafy green areas added to the Earth's surface since 2000 and cataloged by NASA's MODIS satellite appeared due to reforestation and agricultural activities.

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• A greener environment with the solar obligation
• When the solar obligation and also the solar carport obligation become necessary

Especially in China and India, human intervention has caused more areas to be covered with plants. China increased its green space by 17.8 percent between 2000 and 2017, India by 11.1 percent. The EU, which belongs to the eleven “countries” with the largest overall leaf area, took third place. Scientists who analyzed the data for a study published in Nature Sustainability Journal found that 42 percent of the additional green from new forests and 32 percent came from arable land in the case of China. The country recently invested billions in reforestation programs. India, on the other hand, had to record 82 percent of its leaf building for agriculture. In Brazil, for example, the increase in green acreage was still almost completely compensated for by the disappearance of forests and savanna vegetation.

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• Switch to emission-free energy with a solar facade
• The solar fence as an alternative to autonomous power supply

Overall, the area of ​​foliage on earth increased by more than 4 percent in the 18 years examined, with agricultural activities accounting for two thirds of the increase. In particular, the use of genetically modified crops, multiple growth cycles, intensive irrigation and fertilization, and the mechanization of agriculture have made agriculture more visible on satellite images, especially in developing countries.

Earth is a lot greener than it was 20 years ago. What sounds like a reason to celebrate should be taken with a grain of salt. Leafy green areas that have been added to the Earth's surface since 2000 and were cataloged by NASA satellite MODIS appeared because of reforestation as well as agricultural activity.

Especially in China and India increased human activity has caused more areas to be covered with plants. China increased its green area by 17.8 percent between 2000 and 2017, while India added 11.1 percent. The EU, which the study counts among the eleven “countries” with the largest overall leaf-covered area, came in third. Scientists analyzing the data for a study published in the Nature Sustainability journal found that in the case of China, 42 percent of added greenery was from new forests and 32 percent was from cropland. The country has recently invested billions in reforestation programs. India, on the other hand, had to chalk up 82 percent of its leaf increase to agriculture. In Brazil for example, the increase in green cropland was still offset almost entirely by the disappearance of forests and savanna vegetation.

Overall, the leaf-covered area on Earth increased by more than 4 percent in the 18 years surveyed, two-thirds of the increase being from agricultural activity. Especially the use of genetically modified crops, multiple growth cycles, intensive irrigation, and fertilizer use as well as farm mechanization has made agriculture more visible on satellite imagery, especially in developing nations.

China and India are making the planet greener – Image: Statista