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The Probability Distribution of Worldwide Forest Areas

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  • Rafael González-Val

    (Facultad de Economía y Empresa, Campus Paraíso, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50005 Zaragoza, Spain
    Institut d’Economia de Barcelona (IEB), Facultat d’Economia i Empresa, Universitat de Barcelona, 08034 Barcelona, Spain)

Abstract

This paper analyses the probability distribution of worldwide forest areas. We find moderate support for a Pareto-type distribution (power law) using FAO data from 1990 to 2015. Power laws are common features of many complex systems in nature. A power law is a plausible model for the world probability distribution of forest areas in all examined years, although the log-normal distribution is a plausible alternative model that cannot be rejected. The random growth of forest areas could generate a power law or log-normal distribution. We study the change in forest coverage using parametric and non-parametric methods. We identified a slight convergence of forest areas over the time reviewed; however, random forest area growth cannot be rejected for most of the distribution of forest areas. Therefore, our results give support to theoretical models of stochastic forest growth.

Suggested Citation

  • Rafael González-Val, 2021. "The Probability Distribution of Worldwide Forest Areas," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-19, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:3:p:1361-:d:488687
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